Coaver Gerries Cricket Club

Coaver Gerries v Marldon at Marldon on 8 June 2025

35/35 – CRS 50

Coaver Gerries 184/5, Marldon 177/9 . Coaver Gerries won by 7 runs

With a fair wind blowing across the valleys, the farmers cutting the spring grass, and one of the best tracks seen at Marldon for a while, accompanied by the Lords-esque slope, two very short boundaries, the Gerries arrived for what shaped up to be an absolute cracking example of Sunday cricket.

The usual rules applied at Marldon (I think Wisden might need updating though with the variation in 4/6’s), but in essence if you hit a 6 other than straight down the ground, its a dot – if you hit it into the houses you get a warning, and the second time is an enforced retirement… JP felt an opportunity.

Marldon, the usual great hosts, had a team made up of youth and experience, and a couple of players the Devon Cricket League might recognise… but the Gerries had Beano as skipper and it would appear, its own personal Jesus in the form of Jim Masters.

In typical Beano style, turns up, wins the toss and chose to bat, on a track that wouldn’t get harder to bat on… it already was. So Jim ‘JC’ Masters and Skins donned the pads and strode out the middle to start the innings. Both showed class and patience (almost like they had someone watching over them..), until Skins, after making exceptional contact went for a run on a small ground and was run out for 8, but deserved so much more. This bough Erik the Viking to the crease. Jim had mastered the pitch… (sorry) and continued with a blessed knock to eventually be caught on 26. An excellent innings and really set the foundations.

Krish’s turn. He unfortunately went back to a fuller length ball which moved down the slope to the top of his off stump for 1. Skipper was up next.. now, on the side-lines it wasn’t clear what happened, Beano wasn’t sure what happened, the wicket keeper knew what happened but wasn’t sure when asked. The umpires thought they were sure, but the scorebook shows Beano was bowled (apparently) for 0. Helmet in the bin.. Jonah to the middle please (we won’t mention the new T20 kit Jonah was sporting).

At the other end, a different affair. Erik was cracking through his work, playing wonderfully well. A slice of luck in a fumbled catch, in an otherwise delightful display to reach the CRS of 50. Sensational stuff. Gerries were now 78/4 with 20 overs gone.

JP took the place of Erik, and after surviving an early LBW appeal, he and Jonah settled into their game, even running a 2… at Marldon!! Between them moved the score to 153 by the 30th over. A Marldon spinner dropped a full toss, the temptation was too great, a pull over the net saw JP (46) given an official warning, and a dot ball instead of a six. Jonah (34) batted superbly on a tricky deck, and between them they added 80 to the total. Ending the innings with Gerries 184/4. Spare a thought for the Lobbster, who was padded up and very ready the shake the tour off, but sadly didn’t get a sniff.

So to the Marldon innings. Deadly and Lobbs opened up. Deadly using the slope well with nagging line and length, and Lobbs being attacked by the slope having to run up it to bowl. The openers weren’t in the mood to score slowly, and on a small ground this was proving to be the case. No:2 reached the CRS after which Deadly took No:1 for 21. No:3 for Marldon continued the trend smashing 4’s and 6’s around the small ground. 75 on the board after the first 10 overs. JP bowled 4 overs to try and stem the tide, going for 19.

But ladies and gents, your very own….Simon Musannif. A peach of a ball to remove the big hitter, a true momentum shifter and an absolute key wicket. Brilliant to watch. Then Krish, keen to make amends with the ball, bowled arguably the best spell of his Gerries career. Line, length, and chances bagged him three big wickets (one courtesy of an outstanding catch from Mike Seal), saw Marldon only score 16 runs for the 3 wickets. Tremendous.

Marldon had 120(ish) on the board (scorebook wasn’t comprehensive!) but were 5 down. Erik bowled a very timely 3 overs for just 9 runs. The skipper then backed himself (as did the rest of us) and thanks to the tremendously safe Viking hands of Erik, Skipper took the next wicket. In an inspired move, then bought Jonah on to use the slope, and again the hands of Erik snatching the ball of his Abbotskerswell team mate off the turf, giving the black trousered maestro 2 big wickets.

Now with the youngsters at the crease, who batted very well putting on another 20, bringing the Marldon total to 177/9 after 35 overs. A closer than it could have been game, but a brilliant team performance, topped with some fabulous fielding from all in the early June sunshine.

Thanks as always to Marldon for being top hosts, and for the pub roasties afterwards!

Onto the midweek game at home to Sunset. #Oneteam #COYG

A note to selectors – Skins remains unbeaten on a Sunday this season….

Gerries family update:
It was wonderful to see Nick and Frances at the game and to see how well he is doing!
Great also to see Chairman and Jo – Chairman was quoted as being ‘delighted’. Job Done.

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(p.s. not sure who had the bag!! [ED- it did make it to Coaver, so don’t panic!!])