Coaver Gerries Cricket Club

Coaver Gerries v Ottery St Mary at Coaver, 22 June 2025

35/35

Ottery St Mary 172/all out, Gerries 173/4, Gerries won by 6 wickets

And so as June saw in it’s last Sunday game of the 2025 season (a day of the week that Skins still remains unbeaten…selectors…ahem) a 2pm start time on a somewhat cloudier day than previous, a fair wind, a spicy outfield and a lot of non-geriatric voices in the visitors dugout greeted the Gerries as the stage was set for an exciting game against Ottery.

Skipper Jonah (or was it Skipper Beano..?) strode out to the middle to win the toss with the intent to bat first. The bowlers got warmed up.

A mixture of youth and experience met openers Skipper Deadly (6-0-48) and Skipper JP (7-1-3-22) as they set about their work. Skipper Jonah (or was it Skipper Guest..?) set aggressive fields to support his keen strike bowlers. With Deadly keeping the opening duo honest, JP broke through, bowling No:1 through the gate, and then their more youthful replacement, leaving Ottery 41/2 after 8 overs. Ottery hunkered down and moved the score onto 70, before JP struck a third time with a smart catch from Guesty behind the stumps.

Skipper Jonah (or was it Skipper JP…) then bought on Skipper Krish (6-1-23) from the City end, tempting and probing with nagging line and length eventually saw No:5 hit a towering shot to long off, JP was in the hunt, (he would argue he fell through the air – courtesy of a rabbit hole), but managed to cling on for a catch in the deep – a contender for champagne moment according to Skipper Deadly… Ottery were 99/4 at the welcome drinks break.

Krish continued limiting the run rate, as Skipper Lobbster took over at the Hall end, who made the most of all the space in the scorebook… took the wicket of the other opener, who batted very well for 67, with a straight drive into the waiting hands of Skipper Jonah at the deep long off boundary. The feat was then repeated by the same combination of bowling and sound catching two overs later bringing Ottery to 123/6 in the 22nd over.

Enter Skipper Musannif (5.5-34-2) and Skipper Beano (5-12-1), a devastating combo of flight, guile and so much turn the (very young) Ottery middle order needed a lie down. Simon taking charge with a wicket thanks to a smart catch from Krish, and Skipper Beano praying to the cricketing gods with a caught and bowled on bended knees (Jim ‘JC’ Masters gave his blessings!). A run out from Skipper Guest, and then Simon rounding off a fine bowling performance with a quick stumping from Guest again.

This closed the innings on 172 all out in the 33rd over. Game very much on.

Skipper Jonah sent out Skipper Grant and Skipper Jim ‘JC’ Masters to deal with the youthful and pacey Ottery attack. The first three overs…. maidens. We’ve seen this before… but by over 4 Jim had had enough and employed his higher power to open his account with a 6, and never let up. Jim, eventually caught out on a breath-taking 48, hitting no less than 9 boundaries!! Andrew Grant a very welcome sight in a Gerries shirt was a true opening partner, sending the ball to the boundary, racking up 15 runs and frustrating the Ottery youth before being given LBW in front. 14 overs gone, 85/2.

Skipper Guest replaced our own personal Jim, and Skipper Jonah replaced Andrew Grant bringing a familiar sight and sound to the home of cricket. They settled in and took the attack to Ottery, notching up an impressive 9 boundaries between them, before Skipper Jonah was caught 26, Bringing Skipper Kyson to the crease.

An all out attack from Guest and Chugg took the Gerries to 166/3 before Skipper Kyson was caught for 17. A well rested Skipper Beano rose to hit the winning runs in the 29th over, taking the Gerries over the line and to a well deserved win.

A really great game, played in a great spirit with some very young players who are going to keep the pipeline of players for Ottery very healthy for some time to come. A great opposition and we look forward to a return leg soon!

Great Skippering too. Jonah, awash with suggestions did a fine job herding the Gerries to a well deserved victory.

Huge thanks to Mike ‘Gilo’ Giles for turning up for a beer and then spending most of his time umpiring!! A true Gerries legend.

Wonderful again to see so many of the Gerries family in attendance on a lovely day of cricket and long may it continue. Thank you all for your support!!

Gerries march on to a T20 at Exwick on Wednesday evening. Might need a coat!

(Skipper JP has the bag!!)