Coaver Gerries Cricket Club

Coaver Gerries v Sunset at Coaver on 10 June 2025

20/20 CRS 25

Coaver Gerries 144/8, Sunset 145/7. Sunset won by 3 wickets

A bright (to start with) Tuesday evening in Coaver set the scene for this time honoured battle between the two sides, who both know the ground very well. Both side packed with experience, talent and opinions, saw a titanic battle come down the last two balls of the innings.

With spirits in a good place, Skipper Jonah won the toss and chose to bat first. A great decision given the impending low light conditions on the now cloudy horizon.

Lights set about getting to the CRS as quickly as possible, with a fine display of power hitting, giving a significant boost to his seasons strike rate! Hamish was the Gerries other opener hitting a quality shot to the boundary before caught and bowled for 5. The Earl was up next, and again showing no remorse for bowlers feelings continued to strike the ball to the boundary before bowled for 6. Up stepped Skins to steady the ship, while Lights retirement bought JP to the crease.

A wonderful ‘they’re into the bowlers sledge‘ was heard as JP walked in… from Sunset? Nope – our very own Mike ‘Gilo’ Giles – brilliant! JP picked up where Lights had left off and hit out to the sunset attack. Skins was caught for 5, bringing in Jonah who was given LBW, to what some may say was a questionable one, but as usual the skipper remained his stoic, calm self and never once mentioned it. AB strode out to play some magnificent shots and between him and JP added 52 to the score (Including a 2…) both retiring at the CRS, bringing the Landlord and Dom to the crease.

Gerries were 107/5 after landlord was given out LBW, to what some may say was a questionable one, but as usual the skipper Landlord remained his stoic, calm self and never once mentioned it.

Dom perished via a stumping for 1, and Deadly not long after was runout for the same score. While CRS’s and wickets combined for a rapidly changing order (and a complex match report!!), up stepped Ted, the white helmet unmistakably glinting of the low June sunshine. A Joe Root style approach to his innings saw him add a much needed, and brilliantly played 11 (not out) to the score including running a 2…. A returning Lights added a further 5 to take the score to 144/8. Game on – although a small ‘misunderstanding’ about the wides rule (no extra ball, but 2 runs) was talked through with Sunset at the break and an agreement was reached… we didn’t ask.

A new, but very recognisable face donned the keeping gloves for the Gerries as Hamish rolled back the years to take his place firmly in Gerries folklore.

Deadly and JP opened up the bowling to a warm welcome from Sunset putting 33 on the board from the first 3 overs. JP took 2 quick wickets to stem the flow, one of which was a brilliant catch from Hamish, who kept superbly all evening, but the barrage continued as Sunset reached 74/3 in the 10th. As Sunsets batters reached CRS’s, a bowling change saw Landlord step up to take 2 very timely and well executed wickets with some top class bowling!

Skipper then turned on the Lights (see what I did there) who came in to bowl 4 tight overs to add proper scoreboard pressure. At the other end AB replaced Landlord to bowl brilliantly, knocking the bails off twice, leaving Sunset in the 16th over 121/4 and 121/5 in the 17th – a wicket maiden and the game still very much on.

The skipper – who did a fantastic job in somewhat difficult conditions – took the game to the last over. Sunset needed 5 to win. With Deadly bowling the last… single, dot, wicket!, dot, four – game over. So close!!

A great game, played in the right spirit on lovely evening at Coaver, with a good crowd turning up to watch and support, including the sledging Mike Giles – who ended up scoring the entire Sunset innings THANK YOU! And a potential new member PJ who spent the evening watching what the Gerries are all about – hope to see you on the park soon!

Massive thanks also to Jim ‘JC’ Masters for umpiring and standing in the field for the Sunset innings – and was about 2 inches away from one of the greatest Gerries catches of all time!

Chairman was quoted as ‘Hello from Turkey!’

The Gerries fixture juggernaut rolls on to next Wednesday at home to Bakers! #Oneteam #COYG

(P.S Coaver has the bag!)