Cornwall's MCCA Trophy aspirations are back on track following a hard-earned 29-run victory at Camborne on Sunday. In recent seasons Cornwall have usually lost to Berkshire, but they turned the tables at a sunny Roskear on Sunday.

After morning rain a 40-over game was able to get underway at 2 o'clock. Cornwall made two late changes with Mark George and Simon Ellison pulling out overnight due to injury. Falmouth's Antony Angove and Camborne skipper Martin Jenkin came into the team.

Having been put in, the Cornish openers Matt Robins and Gary Thomas got off to a positive start adding 57 in 12 overs before Thomas was lbw in Steve Naylor's second over.

It was the start of an inspired spell by the right arm quickie who accounted for Mike Burns and Tom Sharp in each of his next two overs before bowling Chris Hunkin fourth ball at 72 for 4. The spell was prematurely ended, however, when Naylor was unable to complete his sixth over due to injury, having the most impressive figures of four for two at the time. The Werrington pair of Robins and Alex Smeeth staged a recovery adding exactly 50 before Smeeth fell for 18. Robins followed for 59 made off 102 balls that included a six and fourfours.

With just over six overs to go Cornwall needed a late rally - and they got it in style. Rob Harrison and Gavin Edwards combined to put on a valuable unbroken 69 for the seventh wicket. Harrison's 37 not out came off 33 balls while Edwards smashed a six and five fours making 39 not out in just 20 balls. It took Cornwall to a useful 207-6. Former Somerset and England bowler Richard Johnson conceded 37 from three overs on his return to the attack at the end of the innings.

The visitors got to 25 in the seventh over before Jonathan Trower edged Harrison to Sharp in the slip cordon. John McClean, on his debut, was bowled by Martin Jenkin and at 67 opener David Baines was run out for 22 from a direct hit, despite a despairing dive to make his ground.

James Morris was caught in the deep soon after by Kelvin Snell to give Jenkin a second wicket and captain Bjorn Mordt made 18 to see the 100 up but soon became a second run out victim.

Cornwall sensed victory as Smeeth went through the lower order. Naylor though, in some late hitting, hammered three sixes in a belligerent 33 before holing out to Sharp in the penultimate over.

Smeeth ended with four for 51. Harrison bowled tidily to take one for 20 from eight overs and Jenkin proved his worth taking two for 28 from eight overs.

Cornwall move on to Colwall to play Herefordshire next Sunday before the final group game with Devon at St Just on June 1.

CORNWALL

M Robins c Lambert b CD Crowe 59

G Thomas lbw b Naylor 22

M Burns c Trower b Naylor 5

T Sharp c Trower b Naylor 5

C Hunkin b Naylor 0

A Smeeth c Lambert b CD Crowe 22

R Harrison not out 37

G Edwards not out 39

Extras (b 4, lb 5, w9) 18

Total (6 wkts, 40 overs) 207

Fall: 1-57, 2-66, 3-72, 4-72, 5-122, 6-138.

Did not bat: M Jenkin, A Angove, K Snell.

Bowling: R Johnson 8-0-62-0, T Lambert 7-1-38-0, S Naylor 5.2-4-2-4, CP Crowe 6-0-30-0, J Morris 5.4-0-31-0, CD Crowe 8-0-35-2.

BERKSHIRE

D Baines run out 22

J Trower c Sharp b Harrison 12

J McClean b Jenkin 5

J Morris c Snell b Jenkin 16

B Mordt run out 18

P Carter b Smeeth 12

CP Crowe b Sharp 17v R Johnson c & b Smeeth 8

CD Crowe c Burns b Smeeth 0

S Naylor c Sharp b Smeeth 33

T Lambert not out 6

Extras (lb8, nb6, w15) 29

Total (all out, 38.4 overs) 178

Fall: 1-25, 2-43, 3-67, 4-69, 5-102, 6-112, 7-135, 8-135, 9-136, 10-178.

Bowling: R Harrison 8-2-20-1, K Snell 3-0-18-0, M Jenkin 8-2-29-2, A Angove 5-0-17-0, Sharp 8-0-35-1, A Smeeth 6.4-0-51-4.

Umpires: P Matten and R Tolchard.

Cornwall (2pts) beat Berkshire by 29 runs.

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