3 Aug 2008 - Gav's Game
The third match at Kingswood to commemorate the passing of Gavin Easthope, his sister Karen and friend Phil Alexander, between his former club and a team in his name was decided, as he would have loved, by an unexpected last wicket partnership.
Agreeing to bat, Kingswood were soon in trouble against the Gav's XI`s combination of leg spin from Ben Foxwell and pace from Martin Scott with Richard Wilding, Barry Morgan and Angus McCubbin mustering five runs, all Barry`s, between them. A partnership of 117 between Kevin Morgan and Vince Taylor completely turned the tables. With another 15 overs to go Kingswood were looking at 250 or more. A brilliant boundary catch by Martin Scott off Jay Simmons dismissed Kevin for 48. Four wickets in quick succession for Keith Avis, including Vince for 76, and one for Ed White had Kingswood 153 for 9.
Then 10 year old Fin McCubbin and student Andy Smith tore into the Gav XI's attack. In just five overs they put on 50; Andy reaching a personal best of 37*. Not until David Hatton spun one through Fin`s defence at 203 did the assault end.
Like Kingswood, Gav`s XI's upper order stuttered, David Hatton, Martin Scott and Ben Foxwell (to a superb gully catch by Steve Moran) fell cheaply. Again, like Kingswood, a fourth wicket partnership saved the day. Jay Simmons (56) put on 69 with Nick Terrett (58) and 49 with Ed White. Keith Avis (21*) kept the flag flying, but the overs ran out with Gav`s XI on 195 for 8, just nine runs from victory. Gav, a self appointed specialist No.11, would have been delighted that the game had been decided by the tail.