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At last we had some cricket, but unfortunately we now have a football
season, as with players now swapping one wet pitch for another, it
was an unfamiliar side that took to the field, as can be said most
weeks this summer! St Just, champions elect, came expecting an easy
win, but Port fought hard and made the visitors fight for their right
to party that evening.
With Nigel Dunstan just arriving back from his march around Truro
in the morning he was immediately sent out to open the innings with
cake loving Ronnie Williams. Dunstan took great pride in his innings,
the early signs looked good as 20 runs were added without alarm. He
just loves slipping into that number 2 slot.....
Then it went wrong.......! Firstly a mix up over a quick single, Williams
sent back, but his chubby frame failed to make his ground. 'Baileys'
Bury, promoted to 3 had a similar fate, stumped for 3 with the score
on 25. Carvelly was not to be run out though, a fan of sending them
back usually, today he just let his shots do the talking, although
his lofted drives just plugged in the wet outfield and he didn't get
true value for his strokes before he was bowled for 12 with the score
on 46. Dunstan then caught for a well constructed 24 with no addition
to the total and Kev 'Sicknote' Pawley following with the score now
49-5. Skipper Parish joined Adam Young and the pair seemed to be finding
conditions easier before Parish became complacent, playing across
the line looking for a gap, the only gap he found was between bat
and ball! Dave Goodchild, Sanchez 'Kevin' Orchard (1st ball!) and
Wristy Francis all followed quickly, only debutant Andy 'Den' Perry
holding his admittedly small end up to allow another point to be earned,
although Youngs innings was ended when he was bowled for 18, almost
15 overs unused.
With a wet pitch to bowl on the 'new' ball was throw to Carvelly and
spin king Bury to try and use the conditions. After a slow start from
Bury it was his catching paws rather than his bowling boots that removed
Meagor, a stunning one handed leap in the gully off Carvelly, too
quick and short, fended away and perhaps the sniff of nerves from
the Saints? When the Roasters sniff an opening they rarely turn down
an opportunity, Davis next to fall, caught by Perry, yes Perry of
Andy's Gents Barbers, "One cut suits all". 'Monty' Bury
was away now, and becoming unplayable, Semmens hit through one of
his balls for a straight 6, next ball the classic reply, stumps rearranged!
Young replaced Carvelly from the unfamiliar pavilion end, luck not
with him at first, perhaps still sulking (as if!) from not having
first use of the ball, it then turned when the dangerous Rowe played
on for 26 and with 18 still needed 4 wickets were down.
A 'tactical' chat from the skipper and Bury saw M Harvey chip back
to the bowler the very next ball, and when Bury then enticed J Harvey
to loft high into the air, the safe hands of whispering Cif Carvelly
were planted underneath and now the Roasters only needed 4 more wickets.
It was not to be though, as Dunstan's late night showed more in his
bowling than his batting, his own boots rather than the batsmen appeared
to be the target as he dug it in short! It was all over when R Harvey
pulled another short one into the field, St Just the winners, but
a faultless fielding performance had led to an entertaining, if low
scoring afternoon. Gulval the visitors on Monday
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