Bank Holiday Monday saw the Roasters head to Gulval
in search of their first win of the season, following the previous
weeks reverse against Mullion, and no fixture on the Saturday due
to the wedding of 'The Wrists'!
Gulval won the toss and elected to bat, but weren't prepared for Cif
Carvelly as the chattering Protea bowled Nigel Cock first ball of
the innings, Cock leaving the ball only to watch it hit hit off stump
and send the fiery paceman delirious with joy. Boyle was next to go,
the South African repeating the dose and clattering his sticks for
just 6. At the other end Nigel 'Bolognaise' Dunstan at first struggled
with his length but eventually found his pace and line coming uphill
into the stiff breeze. The pacemen kept banging away relentlessly
at both ends and finally Gaylard touched one behind to the waiting
'keeper Ronnie Williams (Jnr). Dunstan was brought off at one end,
replaced by Ireland's finest J'J' Walker, and immediately the change
worked, dangerman Shane Eddy driving hard and low, Dave 'Mallard'
Goodchild taking a great diving catch to reduce the home team to 40-4.
Adam Young was then brought on to give Carvelly a rest, and he took
no prisoners, bowling Eddy for 22 and Laity for 10, bowling a lively
spell, fresh from his stay in one of Camborne's finest 'hotels'! He
threw caution to the wind in his punchy spell, after a pizza the action
following his team mates success down the hill. JJ was incredibly
unlucky during his spell, a succession of difficult chances and some
sloppy fielding errors costing him runs and wickets. He stuck at his
task, enabling the skipper to bowl 'Him' unchanged for 12 overs before
coming on himself, JJ still in the thick of the action as he took
a superb catch to remove Peters as he was looking dangerous, for 27.
Dunstan returned to replace Young, and although down on pace, and
unusually lacking penetration, did bowl Ray Eddy for a 'steady' 19,
most of his runs flying through and around the slip area! Curnow joined
Jelbart and seemed a little upset by the encouragement of the bowlers
and fielders, and a war of words ensued! Carvelly was re-introduced,
causing a beautiful pout/hands on hips moment from Dunstan, but it
worked as Cif bowled a spell full of pace and aggression, Curnow getting
even more upset by anything short, fast, or in his general direction!
Cue comments thick and fast, and once Parish had Jelbart well caught
by Carvelly at point, it was left to Curnow to see out the overs,
although he was so aggrieved after a comment to 'try and knock the
chip off his shoulder, Cif' that the next ball he attempted a second
run that never was, running out Ivor Eddy and ending the innings early.
Port got off to a steady reply, new opening partnership Dean 'Beardy'
Bray and 'Chubby' Williams took the score to 43 before the Italian
was bowled in the 17th over. Mark 'Twiggy' Thomas joined Ron and raced
to 27 from just 25 balls before being caught on the rope, by now the
score 90-2 in the 27th. When the score reached 109 a wobble hit -
Williams, who'd struggled to penetrate the tight ring of fielders,
was bowled for 32, followed 2 balls later by JJ, the only thing the
Gulval keeper caught all day. 'Boo Boo' Bonnett was then bowled for
a duck, leaving the Roasters in some trouble at 110-5.
Luckily Carvelly was in form with bat as well as ball, ably joined
by the Run Machine himself, Kevin Oliver as the pair of them calmly
picked off the bad balls, ran quickly, pressurised the bowlers and
fielders alike, and with no more scares knocked off the runs, securing
the 20 points, only to then hear the 2nd XI had also beaten Gulval's
2nds, by 10 wickets at home, Jamie 'Gordie' Strachan, and Spider 'Kevin'
Kelly both with undefeated 50s. A Roasting Bank Holiday all round……….
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