The phrase ‘Cornwall win by an innings’ seldom sees the light of print. The last time was in July 2005 when Tom Sharp’s 156 and Ryan Driver’s eight wickets saw Herefordshire tumble to an innings defeat at Truro. The previous occurrence was way back in 1968 believe it or not, against Wiltshire at Devizes.

It happened again this week however as Oxfordshire were beaten in a remarkable day and a half at St Austell. Cornwall looked to be going nowhere at 226-8 on Sunday but Brad Wadlan and  Andrew Libby, recalled after four years, added 121 for the ninth wicket before Libby was bowled for 39.

It eclipsed the 78 year county ninth wicket record of 102 between George Rogers and Tommy Harry, also against Oxfordshire.

Wadlan then came within a boundary of setting the highest ever Cornish individual score. It was not to be however as he was bowled for 191, made off 189 balls that included 6 sixes and 19 fours.

Oxfordshire were bowled out for 144 on the second morning with  young Somerset seam bowler Liam Redrup, a late call up due to unavailability, taking four wickets, Following on, 205 runs behind, they were all out for 146 in mid afternoon. Libby took a career best six for 45 and had match figures of  nine for 83.

The innings and 59 run success saw a maximum haul of 24 points. Cornwall narrowly top the table after round one though Cheshire, Shropshire and Wales MC also had two day wins and Berkshire convincingly beat Herefordshire yesterday.

St Austell – Cornwall 349 (BL Wadlan 191, AC Libby 39, GM Smith 25, MJ Bone 22, ML Robins 21; LC Ryan 3-96, LM Sabin 2-57, HE Eltham 2-83); Oxfordshire 144 (JA Cater 32, RI Kaufman 28; LT Redrup 4-52, AC Libby 3-38, GM Smith 3-39) & (following on) 146 (HG Munsey 48, JA Cater 48;  AC Libby 6-45, GM Smith 4-51). Cornwall (24pts) beat Oxfordshire (4pts) by an innings and 59 runs.