Cornwall Cricket League Division Two East round-up – Saturday, July 27

IT’S advantage St Austell Seconds in the title race as they beat their Werrington counterparts by 32 runs at Wheal Eliza on Saturday.

Home openers Archie Connolly (40) and Ryan Bate (93) put on 94, and although three quick wickets fell, a further stand of 63 between Bate and Qasim Jamal (21) put the Saints in control. 

A flurry of late wickets saw them dismissed for 212, including 4-38 for leg-spinner Hugh Tomkinson.

Werrington started solidly with the top three of Rob May (20), Dan Howgill (38) and Marley May (21) all getting in, but the home attack kept the run-rate down.

Once they all departed along with key man Tom Lyle (13), spinners James Carter (2-24) and Ben Carter (3-35) ensured the run-rate kept climbing.

Some late cameos from Mark Hodgson (16) and Rob Dymond (23no) ensured they reached 180-8 and a fourth batting point, but St Austell are now just 19 points behind with two games in-hand.

The local derby at Holsworthy went the way of Bude as they eventually eased to a seven-wicket success.

On a slow wicket, South African Herschelle Poggenpoel was a class apart as he made 98 from 115 balls in the Trees’ 182-6 (report, see back page).

The chase saw tempers flare when a strong appeal for a caught behind against opener Matt Williams (43) was given not out, and it proved decisive as he and skipper Warren Rumble (77) put on a match-winning stand.

Holsworthy were back in action at Menheniot-Looe on Sunday, and a squad missing several key players were beaten by three wickets.

After choosing to bat, half centuries from Jack Greening (62) and Herschelle Poggenpoel (54) helped them reach a competitive 217-4. Sam Stacey added a quickfire 34 not out at the end.

Menheniot were struggling at 152-6, but 44 not out from Pete Nance proved decisive as they got home with two balls to spare.

Poggenpoel’s 2-27 was the best of the figures.

Bottom side Tintagel breathed life into their relegation battle on Saturday as they thrashed fellow strugglers Menheniot-Looe by eight wickets.

West Indian Akobe Earle (3-40) did the early damage with Harry Daly (1-24) providing the perfect foil, before Vedavyas Kankanala (3-12) and Jordan Blanchard (2-2 off 1.4) wasted no time in running through the lower order as the hosts were all out for just 86.

Both Callum Flew and Ben Jarram went for ducks to Giles Francis, but Earle (36no) and skipper Matt Jolliffe (33no) ensured they took home 20 points.

Third-placed Callington Seconds kept up their fine form with a comfortable 59-run success at Ladock.

Callington’s innings was a real team effort as they reached 229-6.

Despite Ben Allsop’s quickfire 33, it was the partnership of 70 between James Brenton (37) and Nick Parker (36) that set the platform for James Moon (65no) and Jim Shorten (22) to propel them up and beyond the maximum batting points.

Ladock’s start was slow and included the key wicket of Alex Ridd for 24, bowled by Ben Alford.

Jonny Ridd made 69 from 79 balls but he was one of three wickets for teenage seamer Ryan Hodge who finished with 3-24 from his nine overs.

Ladock eventually finished on 170-7.

South Petherwin’s struggles continued as they were beaten by seven wickets at St Minver.

Only Adrian Clements (57) and opener Ollie Peterson (35) made much impression as they were dismissed for just 159 as seamers Josh Sanders (2-26) and Reece Thompson (4-49) shared six wickets. Dean Jeffery chipped in with 2-43.

Alek Gill (52no) and Archie Edwards (36) did most of the damage in a routine chase.