Coaver Gerries Cricket Club

Gerries versus Ide at Coaver on 1 September 2024

Coaver 140-7 Ide 144-3 LOST by 7 wickets (30:30)

Ide are usually tough opponents and the omens were not good when we saw that Jacques Vermeulen, the Exeter Chiefs back rower was in the opposition line up and indeed captaining them.  We thought he was likely to be good!!  Smudge won the toss and elected to bat.

We got off to an excellent start with our two openers scoring steadily and the score had surpassed 50 before Jonah was given run out perhaps rather unluckily as the umpire adjudged that he had not grounded his bat.  Kiwi was dismissed shortly afterwards and while there was a bright and breezy 22 from the in-form Jim Masters and two nice fours from Skins in his 10, no-one was able to really get going and threaten the compulsory retirement score of 50. 

We had subsided to 93-6 when the Landlord and new signing Dom Baker came together in a stand of 46 with Dom making 16 and Gordon, a very fine 20 not out with three 4’s (his best score for Gerries).  The innings also included a daring attempted reverse sweep which had he managed to direct the ball to the boundary would have been my choice as champagne moment of the season!   This late stand meant we got to a respectable 140 -7 at the end of our thirty overs.

It was never likely to be enough.  Deadly got an early wicket and Smudge got an lbw decision but Gooding and Ash reached the CRS for Ide and the result was inevitable. Smudge got a late second wicket courtesy of a good catch at point from Deadly but Ide comfortably reached the victory target in the seventeenth over and we had lost by 7 wickets. Best bowling from Deadly 1-39 and Smudge 2-33.  Vermeulen did not even get a bat!!

It was a fun game played in excellent spirit and with lots of banter, largely aimed at Phil Bye, who as usual gave as good as he got,  Thanks to Smudge and Jo who with the assistance of Padders and Mike Seal (sorry if I have missed anyone out) put on an excellent tea…..shades of the past!!!