Cricket- County Division Six (East)

Gorran II v St Neot

A strong St. Neot team travelled to Gorran to face yet another unknown foe. After the routine inspection of the wicket the two skippers went out to the middle and on winning the toss the Gorran skip asked the Taverners to bat.

There was a mixed start for St. Neot as A. Kent enjoyed the variety of line and length offered by Atkins while Marks went fourth ball at the other end, lbw to Bunney. This left the score at 12 for 1 after 2 overs.

Clapham was next in but made little impression as Bunney bowled him. With the score at 30 for 2 Gorran sensed the chance to seize the initiative but AK and Bunt steadied the ship. With the introduction of change bowlers Pill and Shepherd they then started to take the attack back to Gorran and runs started to flow across the fast outfield.

With AK taking a particular liking to this he passed his 50 in 52 balls with 10 fours. Then just before the halfway stage he played one shot too many and was bowled by Shepherd with score on 99. Tamblyn was next in and for once realised what he had a bat for and along with Bunt continued the momentum as the board ticked over.

Bunt was next to go for a controlled 45. The score was 132 for 4 and Gorran were sensing a change in fortune but Pearce had different ideas. After settling in he launched into the bowling and was ably aided by Tamblyn. These two both made the thirties before falling and the innings had been resuscitated to 194 for 6. With men in the shed runs were still available but unfortunately only G. Kent and D. Taylor made any impact from the tail against the bowling of Blamey and Shepherd and St. Neot were finally dismissed for 213.

Against an opening partnership of Shepherd and Evans whom the previous week had added 200 for the first wicket, AK opted for the youthful and exuberant attack of Watts and Fraser. With more than a spring bounce in their step they trundled in and were soon reaping the awards as first Fraser than Watts took two wickets to put Gorran at 12 for 4 off overs. Churms and Atkins offered brief resistance against the lively pair, but Watts not to be subdued by the odd four soon took command and took another three wickets with only the enduring Churms still providing any resistance.

Fraser weighed in with another before Bunt and Taylor entered the attack. Bunt claimed one and drinks were taken at 91 for 9 before Bunt claimed his second and Gorran were all out for 93. A big plus in the game was the sudden improvement in the Taverners catching. Only a few weeks ago catches were downed at will, but today all 10 wickets were caught with Tamblyn, Pearce and (at last) Clapham taking three catches each, with it all being finished off with an AK special.

Scores - St Neot 213 (A Kent 51, M Bunt 45, A Tamblyn 39, M Pearce 33, D Taylor 10, G Kent 10 n.o., T Blamey 3-11, M Shepherd 3-70, R Bunney 2-15). Gorran 93 (C Churms 34, D Pill 15, M Atkins 10; D Watts 5-42, I Fraser 3-42, M Bunt 2-7).

St Neot (20) bt Gorran (2) by 120 runs.