After a disappointing summer, weatherwise ironically the Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League County Finals Day was played out under blue skies and unbroken warm sunshine allowing the sun to literally ‘set on the season’, writes Michael Weeks.
In the Division Two final at Lanhydrock St Austell Seconds made short work of beating Perranporth by eight wickets in a game of less than 34 overs. Perranporth’s Harry Watkins was bowled by Jack Carter’s first ball of the match and only Cameron Bishop (35) got double figures with six batters failing to score. Jack Carter and Ben Sleeman took four wickets each.
Requiring 75 James Carter hit an unbeaten 30 to secure victory in the 18th over. Legendary Cornwall bowler Brian Read accompanied League President Vic Hassell at the presentation ceremony.
In Division Three Robbie Piper led the way for Luckett with bat and ball as the resurgent Tamar Valley club defeated Wendron, another club on the comeback trail after some difficult years, by 68 runs at sun-baked St Gluvias. Opening the batting, after his team had been inserted, he showed sound judgement on a drying pitch to score 59 in a total of 158.
Bowling left-arm swing, he then opened the bowling for Luckett with a spell of 3 for 26 as Wendron subsided to 90 all out. Leon Cole, snaffling Wendron key man Jack Mitchell, caught on the boundary for 13, was also in the wickets, supported by veteran slow bowlers Mark Southcott and Adrian Berry. Toby Pimlott, with 4 wickets and 30 runs, shone in adversity for Wendron.
There was an excellent game at St Minver where Rosudgeon & Kenneggy, playing in a second consecutive County Final, claimed the Division Four crown but only by the narrow margin of 11 runs against St Neot. Opener Stephen Bertrand batted through the Rosudgeon innings to make 105 not out. He got good support from Damian Cummins (40) and Tommy Thomas (31) as the West Cornwall side posted 201-3 in 40 overs.
St Neot’s number three David Masters (56), opener Jack Kent (21) and Spencer Ham (27) down the order got St Neot close. Thomas completed a good game with 3-38 and veteran Sid Lawrence took 3-15 from five overs.
In Division Five Mount Hawke & Porthtowan successfully staged their first county final with Helston Thirds defeating Gorran by five wickets at the Victory Ground. With top order regulars missing Gorran were reduced to 35-5 and 67-7 and an early finish looked on the cards. However, Geoff Goostrey hit three sixes in his 32 and Matthew Liddicoat made 32 not out to reach 137-9 off the 40 overs.
Peter Boyd did the early damage with 4-15 from ten overs and Matthew Davis took 3-37. Kannan Mathivannan (26) continued his good end-of-season form and with Michael Smith making 40 and Davis 20 the winning runs came with over six overs to spare.
Hellesveor completed a great first season in the League to win a competitive Division Six final at St Stephen defeating Luckett Seconds by four wickets. Richard Seeley made 32 for Luckett, sharing an opening stand of 112 with Martin Budge, who hit 4 sixes and 10 fours in his 97. Martin Budden made an unbeaten 21 to get the total to 189 all-out off the final ball. Dillon Hart took 5-53 and Jason Shaw 3-29.
The Hellesveor reply was built on a third wicket stand of 123 between Dave Marsh (56) and Hart who hit 3 sixes in his 87. Both got out with victory in sight but despite Alistair Skeet’s three late-wickets Hellesveor got home with almost nine overs to spare.
Division 2 Lanhydrock – Perranporth 74 (C Bishop 35. B Sleeman 4-20, Jack Carter 4-27) lost to St Austell II 78-2 (James Carter 30no) by eight wickets. Division 3 St Gluvias – Luckett 158 (R Piper 59, J Hoskin 28; T Pimlott 4-23) beat Wendron 90 (T Pimlott 30; M Southcott 3-16, R Piper 3-26) by 68 runs. Division 4 St Minver – Rosudgeon 201-3 (S Bertrand 105no, D Cummins 40, T Thomas 31) beat St Neot 190 (D Masters 56; S Ham 27; S Lawrence 3-15,T Thomas 3-38) by 11 runs. Division 5 Mount Hawke & Porthtowan – Gorran 137-9 (J Goostrey 32, M Liddicoat 32no, J Keening 25; P Boyd 4-15, M Davies 3-37) lost to Helston III 141-5 (M Smith 40, K Mathivannan 26) by five wickets. Division 6 St Stephen – Luckett II 189 (M Budge 97, R Seeley 32; D Hart 5-53. J Shaw 3-29) lost to Hellesveor 193-6 (D Hart 87, D Marsh 56; Alistair Skeet 3-40) by four wickets.
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