Cricket is a team sport, but individual performances can sometimes have a profound impact on the outcome of a game.  And so it turned out on Saturday..

With the Gerrans ground bathed in rarely seen summer sunshine, the home side had very much the better of a competitive game, comfortably beating friends and rivals Mullion 2nd XI by 6 wickets.  Tris Perry and Simon Tilley amassed a fine unbeaten 118-run 5th wicket partnership to see Gerrans home with 6 overs to spare.

Simon Tilley won the toss and invited Mullion to bat first on what was a damp, but rapidly drying surface.  Gerrans were quickly in the wickets with Joseph Tilley bowling a fine opening spell of 6 overs for 18 runs (the first four of which were maidens).  He snared Mullion’s dangerous captain Harry Bray for a duck and then had Owen Evans caught for 1.  Tilley’s opening bowling partner Charlie Baker bowled equally well and finished with figures of 1-17 off 6.5 overs.

Tris Perry extracted big turn when he replaced Baker at the Church end of the ground.  He was almost unplayable and in 8 probing overs he snared 4 victims for a mere 23 runs.  Shrewd bowling changes by Captain Tilley saw wickets tumble at regular intervals with Jim Holt clean bowling opener Daniel Tripconey for 62 and Freddie Tilley (1-24) snaring young Thomas Cockings to a good catch behind.  His father Michael was left stranded on 45* to leave Mullion all out for 154 in 40 overs.

Gerrans batting wobbled early on with Baker, Freddie Tilley, Holt and Torkington falling cheaply to leave the home side teetering at 37-4.  Enter Simon Tilley (54*) and Perry (53*) who both batted with great composure to see Gerrans home comfortably for their 4th win of the year.

Gerrans travel to Praze on Saturday 9th September for their last game of the season.  Assuming Gerrans can take three points from that game, the club’s position in Division 3 will be assured.

We’d like to thank our supporters who have kept the faith in the team this year, turning out in all sorts of weather to cheer us on.   Here’s to an Indian Summer.