This match was approached with great expectancy as the side, excluding the first game of the season, were playing some high quality cricket and were on target to win the Southern Counties title. Therefore the shock of a really poor all round performance was greater than normal. We must stop playing our last game of the season on the last Wednesday of August as last summer this was a huge anticlimax and for the second year running the season ended in depression. Apart from Tom Allen’s bowling there really was not much else to take from Aaron Williams, Will Grainger and Richard Tucker’s final game. It would be a real shame for Devon cricket if this is Aaron’s final appearance in royal, gold and black and he has to look outside the county to further his career as he has much to offer cricket particularly his home county. Irrespective of three early decisions that went against them the twenty-ones lost their way in all departments and it is sad to write they were totally out performed by the Cornish. The weather forecast put doubt on the game being concluded but not for the first time this summer was wrong as light drizzle eventually reached the St Austell ground when the game had concluded. Williams won the toss and fielded, Allin took an early wicket but Churcher and Tunnadine put on the highest partnership of the season by an opponent – 185 off 208 balls. It would not be sour grapes to write that both batters, on another day, would have been dismissed, caught behind, early, but it was not to be as the pair batted sensibly and the local supporters were estimating a final total well in excess of 300. Indeed it did look likely, as Williams even resorted to bowling his own brand of slow bowling but once the partnership was broken Cornwall lost five wickets for 38 runs as their batters had rushes of blood. Churcher was well held by Parker, his first of three catches, for 92, it was third time unlucky for Tunnadine as Barlow held him at long off of Cooke who in fairness also bowled  well, for 86. The kamikaze approach continued as Devon held most of the chances offered. Bone restored some sanity by batting twenty-eight minutes for an undefeated 36. Allin bowled well and with Bess and Williams will benefit from a winter down under. The final score of 273 would need a couple of large innings to get close; sadly the best was 28 from Bess as the side folded with little trace being dismissed for 141 in 35 overs. Cornwall missed one chance, held every half chance, took nine catches and one stumping – had it been Devon the accolades would have flowed. Incredibly disappointing and really apart from the gap from their last game against Dorset there was no rhyme or reason for such an inept performance. The players were due to leave in high spirits for a night in Newquay they left under a sodden sky totally depressed. Well played Cornwall who through this win shared the title with Devon.                                 Home   |   Scorecard