2025 MATCH REPORT 18/6: Bakers too hot to handle

Coaver Gerries v Bakers at Coaver, 18 June 2025

20/20 25CRS

Gerries 143/3, Bakers 146/5. Bakers won by 5 wickets

Our scene is set on a hot, sweaty night at the home of cricket. The sun was blazing, the clouds had popped off on their holidays and a clear blue sky greeted the Gerries and Bakers for a T20 on a fine Wednesday evening. A pre-match agreement was struck that the second innings would be bowled from the Hall end, with the City end closed as the sun goes down.

Skipper Jonah, still sporting the new black T20 kit that we’re not sure has yet debuted on the club shop, won the toss and chose to bat. The lower order immediately relieved not having to take the field in the stifling sunshine and with a very quick outfield.

The top order however, may have wondered if fielding first was a better call. As Nick Guest opened with vigour, we lost the Earl to his first ball, quickly followed by James Evans on his second to a fine, if heavily juggled, catch. 10/2. Eek. In comes Skipper Jonah to steady the ship and he and Guesty set about taking the score to 70/2 by the 10th over.

Guesty eventually retiring with a smashing 27 with a flurry of boundaries. Bringing forth Erik the Viking. who again continued the theme promptly retiring on 25, followed by Skipper Jonah retiring soon after on 25. The retirements kept coming, Kyson next with an assault on the boundaries reaching 26 in no time at all.

In between retirements, the cavalry was very much charging alongside the light brigade, Skins producing a sumptuous display including 6’s and 4’s until getting caught for an excellent 17. AB in his usual uncompromising style hit 11 (NO) in a very short space of time, and JP managed a 5 ball cameo for an unbeaten 4.

143 on the board. Bakers managed a couple of maidens, and only 6 extras, in a good bowling display. Competitive? Yes. Hot? Absolutely! Game (and drinks) on!

Onto the fielding. The sun had now gone over the yard arm, and was staring straight into the face of anyone stupid enough to bowl. Up steps JP (3-0-17) to open… alongside the Dominator (2-0-21), to get the innings underway. Both assuming the ball was heading towards the stumps… Bakers took their chances and had 37/0 on the board after the first 5. Next into the blinding limelight was the Landlord (4-1-37) and AB (4-0-28). Between them bowling tight lines but the sun and the quick outfield wasn’t a great help, but Landlord making the breakthrough in his fourth over thanks to an outstanding catch in the deep by Kyson. By this time Bakers had 100/1 up.

Bakers saw the first three batters retire at the CRS. So skipper called on Kyson (2-2-20) and Erik (3-1-19) to pick up the ball (and their sunnies) and proceed to take 3 excellent wickets between, supported by some great fielding and catching keeping the suspense very much alive. With Bakers now 142/4 the Skipper backed himself, and rightly so, got a crucial wicket in the 19th over – it was still on!!

Bakers unnervingly hit the winning runs with an over to spare, but the Gerries never gave up and were perhaps rueing the chance to add a few more runs, but overall the performance was excellent with bat and ball – four catches for the team as well (although a lot of thanks goes to sticky suncream hands!!!)

A great game, played once again in a great spirit and a well needed drink for all invovled was shared after the game.

We move on. Next Ottery at home on 22 June at Coaver.

Great to see Gerries young, old and all in between attending the game on a lovely summer evening, and long may it continue!!

(p.s. Coaver still has the bag!!)