Coaver Gerries Cricket Club

Coaver Gerries v Tipton St John, 3 August 2025

35/35 No CRS

Gerries 228/5, Tipton 229/3. Tipton won by 7 wickets

The return leg between two old competitors bought Tipton St John to the home of cricket to take on the Gerries. Tipton fielded a strong batting line up, and an energetic fielding unit, but in an unfortunate turn of selection and availability events, Gerries found themselves a man down before the toss.

There was a wonderful sea of support from family and friends of the club, and it was so good to see Padders at the game! A face missed by everyone, and we hoped he would return to plug the gap in the field later in the day, but with a few options being offered.. skipper had a fielding plan!

With the toss won by Gerries and given the lack of a full line up, decided to bat first. Enter Hamish and Jim Masters. The intent was clear.. runs on the board. Hamish came out swinging, but was unfortunately was caught early on a lusty blow for 3. This bought Krish to the crease, who had been batting well recently – could he do it again?

Jim and Krish set about one of the finest 100+ partnerships in a Gerries shirt. Jim racing of the mark with boundary after boundary, and Krish scoring 20 off his first four balls. The two of them moving the ball and the field around the hot, dry outfield, until Jim was eventually caught for a magnificent 40. Krish continued.

Dan Lobb was sent out to build on his last great innings. Now, the keeper said he was in, he thought he was in, but the umpire disagreed and he was stumped for 7. TMO!!! Krish continued

JP up next, and mercy wasn’t on the menu. 22 off the first 6 scoring shots, he backed up Krish who continued his sprint towards three figures, but alas. A swing for the boundary saw Krish caught in the deep for a genuinely brilliant 92 (cough…jug avoidance…cough). One for PCM list! (Potential Champagne Moment)

Out came skipper Beano who was keen to keep the score ticking over, but was caught for 3 off the dangerous Buckland. Stephen Jones entered the chat, and between him and JP, they staunchly saw off the final overs ending on 7 and 39 respectively.

With Mr E.Xtras adding 37 to the total, and now in the running for player of the season, Tipton needed 229 to win.

Gerries, with a fielder short looked to the subs bench, and thankfully a shorter than normal Gerrie was kitted up and ready for action. JP’s boy Albie ‘AJ’ Sewell was more than excited to make his formal Gerries debut. Padders thankfully returned and donned his whites, as Jonah selflessly decided to umpire for the innings, allowing both Padders and AJ to field for the full innings [ED: I’ve never seen an umpire so happy when shouting ‘no-ball’ :-)].

Deadly (7-28-0-1) opened the bowling taking the openers wicket in just his second over – Gerries were on top! Skipper Beano (5-0-47-0), knowing Tipton would go for it opened from the other end. Tipton’s other opener settled into his work and got comfortable in scoring shots all over the park. At the other end Tipton’s ‘overseas’ player was taking it to the first change bowlers Stephen Jones (4-0-33-0) and Krish (6-0-64-0).

With a further drying outfield thanks to the baking sun, the ball was flying about the park and found the boundary on multiple occasions, but epic fielding performances from all Gerries, especially Padders and Gerries academy player Albie (who fielded fine leg to fine leg for the entire innings!) kept the game as close as it was in the middle overs.

JP (5-0-42-2) managed to break the partnership with wickets in his 2nd and 4th overs, but couldn’t quite get the others. Lobbs (0.2-0-2-0) had the unfortunate duty to bowl the over that got Tipton over the line, with 3 of their top four making half centuries, with 6 and a bit overs to spare. Tipton went on to a deserved victory.

It was a great game, despite the result, played in the best spirit with the best people. Some incredible performances with bat, ball, in the field and from the sidelines. A true Gerries team performance, with the people who make it what it is.

Takeway point – the future of the team is in good hands.

P.S. Coaver has the bag.