Stirzaker Stars on Coronation Day

Henry Stirzaker saw Gerrans to a convincing 55 run home victory over St Gluvias on Coronation Day.

Asked to bat first by St Gluvias, Gerrans posted a commanding 239-5 off their 45 overs.  Stirzaker batted through for a magnificent 140 not out which included an impressive 10 fours and 10 sixes.  Stirzaker’s opening partner Jim Holt hit a breezy 43 which included 8 fours in an opening partnership of 78 runs off 17.3 overs.

Some tight bowling by St Gluvias’ Mark Bannister (3-33) and overseas player Pat O’Brian (1-39) saw the visitors regain some control in the middle overs.  Tris Perry was bowled through the gate for 1, the promising young Freddie Tilley holed out at extra cover for a duck and Jason Holt was LBW two balls later without troubling the scorers.  In the space of a few overs, Gerrans had stumbled from 78-0 to a precarious 93-4.

Gerrans’ Captain Simon Tilley and Stirzaker carefully rebuild the innings after the middle order wobble and when Tilley was cleaned up in the 43rd over by his opposite number, Richard Bannister for a well crafted 27, the pair had put on an impressive 128 runs in 25 overs.

A hostile opening spell of bowling from Stirzaker (3-30) and Joseph Tilley (2-24) left a shell shocked St Gluvias 25-5.  Tris Perry added to visitors problems taking two further wickets to leave them reeling at 57-7.  However some fine lower order batting from Andrew Julian (43), Mark Bannister (39) and Sreeram Valsalkumar (48*) added a further 117 runs before Jim Holt made the vital breakthrough by clean bowling Bannister with an excellent yorker – to the palpable relief of his team mates and those watching from the boundary.

Holt then induced Ben Mitchell to hole out in the deep with Steve Hooper taking a fine catch to wrap things up and leave St Gluvias all out for 184 in the 39th over.

Gerrans play at home again on Saturday 13th May against fellow promotees St Just in Penwith.