Devon Cricket Board - Cornwood skip calm despite 128-run defeat

Cornwood skip calm despite 128-run defeat

CORNWOOD skipper Craig Harris isn’t about to panic despite a second successive Premier Division defeat.

The top-flight new boys ran into leaders Sidmouth on Saturday and came away from the experience 128-run losers.

Sidmouth amassed 301 for ix in 50 overs – openers Matt Cooke (92) and Liam Lewis (73) leading the way with a stand of 168 – then Cornwood were bowled out for 163 in reply.

Sevcn days earlier it was second-placed Bovey Tracey who turned Cornwood over.

Harris said he remains confident in his side’s ability to start climbing the table from fourth bottom in the weeks ago.

“We've had two very hard weeks against two very good teams and now going in to our next few games we have to put what we have learnt to good use,”” said Harris.

“If we do we'll come away from playing five or six games well placed to go at the rest of the season.”

There’s no hiding place in the Premier Division against quality sides such as Sidmouth, who have won the competition three times in the past four seasons.

Harris said his side are learning on their feet that the margins for error are fine.

“We had limited bowling options as Andy Bees, Jason Hall and Eliot Staddon were all out for one reason or another,” said Harris.

“As a result of limited options we did give them a bit when we bowled and on a very good hard track we gave more of a scoring length than width.

“We squeezed well in patches and I was pleased with the bowling of Robin Dart and Ryan Rickard, filling in some slower overs.

‘The score did get away from us but Sidmouth’s strength in depth allowed them to go out steadily to start with then put the foot down when needed.”

Batting wise Cornwood were always up against it after slumping to 75 for five and despite some dogged work from one or two the outcome was inevitable.

“Our chase lost regular wickets which meant we weren't able to push on,” admitted Harris.

“Decent knocks from Duncan Boase and Mark Horwell were positives.

“If we play through more time by playing ourselves in more scoring options will come available.”

Boase top scored on 43 while Horwell was next best on 31.

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