Cornwood had an important benefit match the following week and we were acutely aware that our presence could upset their plans that had already been washed out once by the 2012 summer. Fortunately we actually did get nearly a full game in against Cornwall who had a number of players who were also representing their seventeens in their side. They were to reach the second division cup final later in the summer and won their group. The side selected by Devon excluded seventeens and fifteens so this was an ideal opportunity for some players to show what they can do. This summer, due to the rain, opportunities had been very limited. Of the programmed four days play to date only one had been possible. This had caused real disappointment and difficulties so a day’s play was vital. Cornwall won the toss and batted. Play started on time with Sale and Holmes opening up and after nine overs Cornwall were 33-0 with just one maiden bowled by Sale. The visitors were showing a positive intent. It then rained and when the players were due to go back out it rained again. A typical excellent Cornwood tea was taken and the game was reduced eventually to thirty-eight overs a side. The contest then continued uninterrupted as Cornwall then scored at nearly five and half an over. Devon only picked up three wickets as the bowling and some of the fielding disappointed. Burford and Nicholas put on 102 for the first wicket off 174 balls when Sale held a stunning catch at short mid wicket off Parminda Singh. The second wicket put on 81 at less than a run a ball and the home side appeared in some difficulty. In the thirty-sixth over Declan Lines held Butler on the rope off Sale. The third wicket only put on a single when Sale held his second catch this time off Holmes. The fourth wicket pairing took Cornwall up to 193-3. Dissapointingly as in the days play with Gloucestershire Devon were again having problems taking wickets and putting their opponents under pressure.

  Devon would need to score at just over five an over and in fact they scored at nearly five and half allowing Luke Ansell to catch an early train with surfboard to Sennen. Choules departed in the sixth over having contributed eight of his partnership of twenty-five with Richardson. He and the rest of the side then had to sit back as Harrison-Hooton and Richardson put on 171 at a run a ball in 178 minutes. HH has had a very productive season playing for North Devon twos and has a very simple approach to batting dab it or hit it. He scored 93 off 86 balls and just went for it in an uninhibited display. Richardson contributed seventy of the partnership off eight-eight balls playing more sedately. When they reached their target they were within twenty-two runs of the record second wicket partnership which has stood, coincidentally, for twenty-two years. The partnership was also six runs short of the second best second wicket partnership. The ease at which this game was won took some by surprise but the positive intent of the batters most certainly outweighed any deficiencies in the field. However there was still a niggling doubt about the performance in the field. Cornwood did everything possible to get in a full game and it was good to be at Oak Park again after a couple of unfortunate years when both the USA and Cornwall had cried off.