Uni to see it to believe it!

As with every bank holiday in history, the rain became a factor in whether this fixture would even take place. Heavy downpours on the Saturday left a lot of doubt , and a huge amount of weather speculation in the WhatsApp group! Conference calls took place, the oppo were happy to travel and the committee did a great job in getting the game underway.

The sides were a contrast of exuberant youth and experienced heads, so two contrasting styles set up the afternoon nicely.

Squad updates

A very warm Gerries welcome was extended to our new debutant Brigena Disha who not only brings long awaited diversity to the squad, but also genuine leg spin!! Welcome to the family Brigena!!

In a late change (and one that confused the online scoring) Kyson came in for an injured Landlord who we wish a speedy recovery.

The toss

Eager to start, an early toss was taken. Skipper Beano promptly delivered to put the Gerrries into bat to the agreed total of 30 overs. A good choice, given the multiple accounts of everything from sunshine to thunderstorms. With a damp top, the weather held and Jim Masters and Dan Lobb strode out to the middle.

A positive start for Dan, in his new opening role, struck 3 boundaries to move him onto 13 off just 6 balls. Jim wasn’t so lucky at the other end, being bowled by the opener for 1. An early season promotion for JP Sewell bought him in next to try and help see off the openers and the new ball. Dan fell to a catch after a short ball popped up on him, bringing Ahmad Hilal to the crease. What we do know is that it doesn’t matter when or where for this new Gerrie, he continued to make his mark by hitting 30 off just 16 balls. Ahmad was unlucky to be caught in the deep, bringing Andrew ‘Game on’ Padfield to the middle.

He took on the role again of steadying the Gerries ship within a young and outspoken fielding unit. He did exactly what was needed and frustrated the young bucks with a level head and a even straighter bat. JP was again caught in the deep (ruddy youngsters and their ability to catch…), and so in came Kyson Chugg our super-sub with a point to prove. Scoring 16 in 20 balls, was certainly proving it, but was then inexplicably given LBW from a ball hitting him on his thigh pad.

Up steps Brigena Disha for her first ever Gerries innings, and she did so well to see off an aggressive bowling and fielding attack, and was super unlucky to be caught by a close diving catch. This bought skipper supreme Mark ‘Beano’ Dyer to the crease. It was 109/6.

The innings needed a moment and up stepped Padders, with a cracking knock, and celebrating his 50, on the way to a score of 62 off just 70 balls, sensational!! He was another victim of a catch, so returned to a standing ovation from the awaiting crowd! The score was now 178/7!

Dom Baker stepped in to join Beano, who has now made his way into the 30’s, to add another 8 to the score before being caught as well, leaving the last ball for Ian Clewlow to face, which he wore well and ran a gazelle like 2 to take the score at the close to 186/8. Beano finished on a majestic 34, and it was very much game on.

Well batted Boys and Girls!!

The second innings

So to the field. The urgency from the Uni boys had seem to have subsided as they disappeared inside for what seemed like an eternity. The weather was still cloudy but with no rain yet, all 30 overs were a definite possibility.

Speaking of 30 overs, the run rate was a challenging 6/over, which gave opening pair Clewlow and Hilal something really good to bowl at.

Ian bowled with his usual solid line and length, going for only 20 over off his 6 overs, as he bowled right through. Ahmad took the Hall end on and in his usual style bowled straight and quick giving the opening pair nothing to work with. Kyson replaced Ahmad after 3 overs, leaving 3 in the bank [ED – no spoilers!!], and what a change. Kyson made the breakthrough with his own LBW shout and balanced the books nicely.

Exeter Uni were ticking over, but behind the run-rate – the game was still in the balance. At 54/1 – 10 overs had already gone.

JP took over from Ian at the City end, and soon made a breakthrough bowling the No 3 for only 9, and then removing the middle stump of the other opener (who at this point scored 59), bringing the score to 86/3. Miserly JP conceded only 15 off his 5 overs, for which the tension was all too much for their No4’s hamstring who decided (after scoring 4 off 25 balls) that he’d better retire.. and that fortunately they had some big hitters waiting to bat (something about the spirit of cricket…. I forget now).

Enter Simon Mussanif to bowl his testing line and length, and as the run rate got bigger the big hits and chances started also. Simon was unlucky but never stopped getting chances. A change bought debutant leg spinner Bridgena Disha on, who with her very first ball had it cut right into the hands of a waiting Dan Lobb, who was more surprised than anyone as it just didn’t stick. So close!!

The score moved on, so Beano then bought himself and with his last ball managed to take the wicket of the first of the big hitters, with the help of a brilliant running catch from Ahmad -The crowd erupted!!

Score now 135/4 – 6 overs left.

Up steps Dom Baker and what a step, with his second ball, a little confusion all round, and a slight intonation in his ‘Howzatt?!’ he removed another big hitter with an plumb LBW.

Score now 135/5 – 5.4 overs left

Skipper Beano, making a big withdrawal from the bowling bank, bought back Ahmad to fire some rockets as the run rate was now up to 9 an over, but the Uni were keen and pushed on scoring a few big boundaries. Dom carried on limiting their scoring, until a big pull to the square leg boundary from his last ball found our very own personal Jesus – Jim Masters waiting to catch it – and he certainly did!

Score now 177/6 – 1 over left [ED – I’m still giddy writing this…]

Ahmad, who had already done so much in the match came back to bowl the last over. With 10 needed, the field was set to stop the boundary and concede the 1’s and 2’s – and if you look back over the years of cricket, a defensive field is exactly what it was. The Uni skipper seemed to take exception to this and told Skipper Beano that it was against the spirit of cricket. Beano, being the more experienced of the two, looked bemused and suggested that he was just trying to win the game. JP muttered something about hamstrings, and trotted off to long on.

10 needed. Off the last.

2 off the first.

1 off the second (and some choice words from the batter)

A bye – but no harm done

2 off the fourth

Dot ball!!! 4 needed of the last

Middle stump rocked as the cheers when up – Ahmad delivering the final blow in a game that shifted in balance, in approaches, but never stopped being on a knife edge.

Skipper Beano bringing the team over the line in one of the best games of cricket the Gerries have played.

Gracious in defeat, the Uni boys put on a great display and it was great to hear the fixture being arranged for next time!

Special thanks

Thanks as always to our Chairman Jon, for your presence, for scoring and keeping the troops entertained.

Thanks to Mrs JP for keeping those scoring on a tight leash, and for picking it up for the second innings.

Thanks to AB for umpiring and bringing the kit bag (JP has it by the way)

And to all the supporters watching the game – and congratulations to you if you got married on Sunday at Coaver – if you have any good photos of the cricket, do get in touch on the website!

Thanks also to the Earl for capturing some of the epic moments from the sidelines… including the winning one!

Player of the day

Normally these awards go to the match winning performance, but my goodness there were many of them! But this one went to a match saving performance, brilliantly batted, providing confidence to others to play and really put the Gerries back in a position to win the game.

Player of the day goes to Padders!