Coaver Gerries Cricket Club

As the glorious April weather continued, a regular pair squared up at the home of cricket for a 2026 re-match. With Sunset being the home team, 17 overs were agreed to accommodate the early spring light, and the stage was set for a low scoring and exciting encounter.

Tails never fails

Skipper AB won the toss and elected to field, given we were expecting to see David Attenborough wandering through the long grass, the skill of the batters was to be tested, as the ball didn’t have a chance of racing anywhere.

Starting with himself and Paul ‘Lights’ Lightowlers, making his season debut, the bowling was solid, and made for tough going for the opening pair, Lights ran a very tight line and length ship. An inspired bowling change bought Ahmad Hilal on to bowl his now fearsome pace, and with great impact bowling the Halkyard for 6. Bringing Sunset big hitter Leavis to the crease, with more hitting out to the boundary at every opportunity. Then a moment of brilliance from the skipper, placing JP on the cow corner boundary, to which he duly contributed to the day with a stunning, diving one handed catch to dismiss Leavis. A stonewall contender for champagne moment… in April! Its a long way to go though boys and girls!!

After the applause died down, Sunset retired opener Dennis for 33, and with the score on 50/2, Gerries upped the ante with the ball and in the field, restricting the runs, before Boughton bowled Walters, and in another season debut for Pri Prabhakaran, who after finding his line and length got one to go straight up into the running hands of JP again – this time both feet firmly on the ground.

JP came on to take the wicket of Olczak, and the Gerries back their bowlers with some fabulous fielding from more seasons debutants James Evans and Rob Bethune conceding only 23 runs for the last 3 wickets. 107/5 at close. Game very much on!!

Batting in the deep

Kiwi and Lights were sent out to start the Gerries innings, and start they did, both hitting where the fielders weren’t and both retiring at 25. Excellent knocks for both. Guesty in next, and continued the big hitting scoring his 25 in just 19 balls, including a big six to deep square leg. With Guesty at one end, James Evans was unlucky to be caught first ball, as was Dan Lobb bowled with a first ball beaut. Score was now 84/2, but the overs were running out fast. Kyson Chugg in next but could only get to 4. Bringing Ahmad to try and get bat on ball, with Guesty retiring on 26, JP was asked if he fancied working a miracle and score 11 of the last 3 balls of the innings… not this time [ED- stick to fielding boyo!], and unfortunately Gerries fell 10 runs short but not without a great effort from all those involved.

Special thanks

Huge thanks to Mike Giles for taking on the daunting task of online scoring, but took to it like a teenager on Instagram!

Big shout to the huge amount of people watching for the support and banter – it was a great game, played in the spirit it deserved!

It was great to know there were so many online watching on the app – your support, whether physical or virtual means the world to us.

Player of the day

This was an omission this week – so we can let cricket be the winner!!

Well done boys, we never gave up, and we nearly made it – onwards to Dartanians next week.