2025 MATCH REPORT 30/7: Gerries just miss out on a pizza the spoils.

Gerries versus BJOB’s at Taunton on 30 July 2025

20/20 CRS 25

BJOB’s 124/ 8 Gerries 116/9 , BJOB’s won by 8 runs

As we get towards the start of August it is usually a good idea to win the toss and bat first. It can get quite dark towards the end and in sunny conditions while the light might be better, the setting sun at Taunton can also be a problem. Anyway, BJOB’s won the toss and surprise surprise they elected to bat. The sun was shining and with a fast outfield, a high scoring game looked likely

Skipper Jonah opened the batting with JP and Krish and we made a good start with Krish taking 3-14 in a good opening 4 over spell (catches for Jonah and Erik). When Gordon took a superb caught and bowled falling (his description) to his left the score was 33-4. Lights entered the attack and after he took a further two wickets including a less energetic caught and bowled the score had progressed to 61-6. However, at this point, the BJOB’S ‘colts’ took over and put together a useful stand with both Webber and Edworthy Junior advancing to the crs of 25. This was the key to a competitive total. While there were late wickets for James and Kyson (and a catch for Guesty), the Old Boys closed on 124-8.

With a strong Gerries batting line-up this looked like an eminently reachable total. However, we lost the Earl and Lights cheaply and with the Old Boys bowling tidily, boundaries were difficult to find. However, we progressed steadily and despite the loss of James for 11, by the end of the 14^th over we had reached 81-3 with Jonah and Guesty batting solidly. The victory target looked well within reach. However, at this point Cadwallader entered the attack.

In two devastating overs he took 4-9 (the wickets of Jonah, Guesty, JP and Erik) thereby ripping the guts out of our batting. This included a supremely casual one-handed catch at mid-wicket (by Edworthy senior I think) strolling in and taking the catch low down. At the end of the nineteenth over we were 112-8 and despite the best efforts of Krish and Gordon it was too much faced with trying to hit Cadwallader to the boundary. Gordon perished to the last ball of the match with our score 116-9 and we had lost by 8 runs.

While BJOB’s bowled well and batting in failing light and against the setting sun (beautiful sunset by the way) was not easy, this was a game which we probably should have won. Five batsmen reached double figures but no one was able to dominate and progress to the crs, Guesty top scoring with 23, and that probably was the difference. Nonetheless it was a good close match played in good spirit.

While the traditional fish and chips is not offered any longer, we enjoyed pizza after the game and watched the sun go down while plotting our revenge for the return fixture in September.

(ED: thanks Earl for the epic photos!)

P.S JP has the bag (after a detour to Phil’s!)