Under 14s Early start - early success |
Cornwall at Mount Hawke & Porthtowan CC on Sunday 16th July, 2006 won by 7 wickets
The start of another heatwave…… and happily we were only a mile from the sea so there was a slight lowering of the temperature. The pitch looked good for batting, but maybe also something for the bowlers early on. However, the 11.30 start proved to be Cornish choice of a first bat…but we were quite happy especially as it was a new dimension for the Devon lads – chasing a total. What part would short boundaries at both ends play in proceedings as this was a very high scoring ground?
Alex Carr opened up the slight slope and there was drama in the first over as Matt Thompson took a sharp catch standing up to dismiss Williams for a duck. Paris Pinney partnered Carr and he too soon settled into a good rhythm and there was more pressure on the Cornish recovery. The score slowly built until Pinney’s fifth over when the seamer had Neill-Hall trapped lbw. By now Mohsin Alam had replaced Carr and with Pinney’s spell now over the skipper turned to spin. Curiously Miles Lenygon bowled one over against the slope and then came off to be switched to the other end as Alam was rested. Using the slope, the “offies” of JJ Debenham seemed the more conventional option, and thus it was just before the first drinks break at 15 overs. The score by now was 46-2 with Manuel and South looking increasingly comfortable as the ball got older. It began to look a bit ominous for the Devon bowlers as they were conceding 5 an over by now without looking particularly threatening. The partnership was finally broken by Miles Lenygon in the 23rd over when Manuel went, caught by Thompson, for 28. An excellent rebuilding partnership of 62 – but how would newcomer Penberthy fare? Michael Collinge’s leg spin replaced Debenham who had found the tall Cross a more than worthy adversary. At second drinks (30 overs) Cornwall were 107-3 and Devon were satisfied with keeping the lid on the overall run rate. The first over after drinks by Lewis Gregory was a maiden…but that was the end of the bowlers’ grip on the innings. In the fourteen remaining overs South and Penberthy hit the Devon attack for 158 runs. No one was spared as South in particular with 4 sixes and 17 fours was totally dominant. Penberthy too was uncontainable and in the 40th over Cornwall had reached 200. They hit another 65 off the last five overs amidst a chorus of delight from their team mates and supporters.
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