Words: Simon Travers
4XI Photos: Ivor Thomas
Contrasting emotions were in the Oak Park air in the pre-match build up on Saturday. There was relief there was no repeat of the week before’s weather and a gratefulness that Bev Matthew’s funeral on Friday was a true celebration of her life and a beautiful coming together of the Cornwood family. There were nerves jangling before a big game at Delamore Park and a sense of shock regarding the news about Heathcoat’s pavilion burning down. Everyone at Cornwood sends their thoughts across the county to Heathcoat. For anyone who wishes to show their support, an official club GoFundMe page has been set up.
Sandford’s challenge for the title may have faltered on the last bend as Bradninch & Kentisbeare kick for home and Exeter try to chase them down. However, they still presented a fierce challenge in wounded tiger mode for the visiting Ones with two of the three Division top wicket takers in Jackson Thompson and Aryan Lakra. Sandford came into the game defending a 5-match winning streak against the Ones.
Elliott Staddon elected to bat and the opening partnership of Ben Privett and Ryan Rickard responded positively, putting on 42 for the first wicket in 6.2 overs. Near the end of a scratchy year, Ryan found his form to play an anchor role. He scored 69 from 107 balls and batted for 2 hours and 43 minutes, only 8.5 overs short of batting through. The innings had all the hallmarks of Ryan at his best, technically correct defence, sharp running between the wickets and a well-timed cover drive. Matt Skeemer passed 400 league runs in a season for the second time in his career by scoring 39 from 55. Others chipped in as the Ones posted a defendable 219 in 48.5 overs. Lawrence Walker took home the best figures for Sandford, clearing the tail with 4-19. However, Aryan Lakra’s 3-36 earlier saved the home team a larger target.
Cornwood haven’t defended a chase against Sandford since 2014, when keeper Matt Butterworth wrecked havoc up top with bowling figures of 4-14. With Matt Skeemer unable to bowl, it was James Richardson and Alex Shutt who had removed both openers within 4.2 overs. The introduction of Jack Ormsby into the attack tilted the game towards the Ones. Jack posed questions from ball one, and removed Sandford’s UAE international Aryan Lakra LBW with a quicker ball the batter couldn’t catch up with. A wicket for Naveen Fernando in the next over meant Sandford were 69-5 but the Ones could not relax as Jackson Thompson was yet to make an appearance.
Thompson entered the fray with the score on 100-7. As previously mentioned on the Sweep, Jackson saves his best performances with the bat for Cornwood. In a year when he has chosen to bounce around the batting order, Jackson’s two half-centuries are both against the Ones. He set about rescuing the game for Sandford with a 60 run, 9th wicket partnership with Matt Jeacock. When Thompson hammered past his 50 by taking 17 in an over off Ben Beaumont, the game was back in the balance. Jackson tried the same against Jack Ormsby next over but holed out to Elliott Staddon on the leg-side boundary for 65 from 70. Jack Ormbsy finished his spell with match-winning figures of 10-4-17-3. He looked at his best, confounding batters and refusing to give cheap runs. Sandford lost their last wicket 25 runs short. The Ones win is a reminder this team can beat anyone on their day, having claimed a win against the top 3 teams in the division.
Elsewhere in the Premier, matters at the top and bottom of the table were clouded by Bovey Tracey beating Bradninch & Kentisbeare. It was Exeter’s turn to thrash Plympton, which means that if they beat Sandford and Bradninch lose at Exmouth next week, there will be a winner-takes-all title decider on the last day of the season. Sidmouth beat Paignton, who drop into 9th, while all Devon can cheer a gutsy win for Heathcoat over Exmouth.
On Sunday, there was success for Cornwood players in a strong first day of Devon’s three day match against Oxfordshire. Ben Privett scored 75 and Ben Beaumont hit 73, contributing to a total of 402-8 in 90 overs. Ben Privett also closed the day with a wicket. Matt Skeemer is also in the team and bowled tidily in his opening spell.
At Delamore Park, the Threes knew a win over South Devon 2XI was essential for their F Division West title push with second place Stokeinteignhead playing third place Bovey Tracey 3XI. The visitors won the toss and batted. They found themselves subsiding at 61-5 after strong opening spells from Dan Skeemer and Harrison Hodge. The celebration shouts could be heard across Oak Park when South Devon opener Fletcher Cain was caught Mike Hodge bowled Harrison Hodge. South Devon got back into the match with a 85 partnership for the 6th wicket between Jackson Evans (52) and Josh Hammett (67* from 64). Back from injury, Joe Davies broke the partnership and took two more wickets for figures of 3-29 as South Devon closed on 181-9.
It proved to be a comfortable chase as the Threes were carried by their young batting corp. Finn Torley scored a mature, confident 47 from 71 balls to set the table, building partnerships of 45 with Evie Privett and 49 with Ewan Horner. Ewan then stepped up and saw the Threes home with an impressive 59* from 57 balls. He led a 68-run partnership with Mike Hodge, playing cultured shots and timing with authority. At the end of a long season, Ewan demonstrated his best qualities in a seven-wicket win with 50 balls to spare. Stokeinteignhead crept past the line against Bovey Tracey 3XI. That means The Threes stay top by 14 and only need to bowl Bovey Tracey out next week for the 5 points that will guarantee promotion.
The Twos did all that could be asked of them in a one-sided match against Sandford 2XI. Oak Park provided some assistance but there is only one explanation for the Sandford total of 96 in 38.2 overs. For C Division West level, the Twos currently possess overwhelming bowling firepower. Sam Ford (6-1-11-2) and Harry Woolway (6-1-7-0) opened the innings with pace and nagging accuracy. At the end of their spells, the ball turned for Jason Hall (9-3-12-1) and Lee Baker (9-1-30-2). Then Jacob Caunter (4-1-9-2) and Max Finzel (4.2-0-21-3) closed the account. The team combined for 189 dot or wicket balls. That’s 78.75% of all deliveries in the innings including wides. Back in the day, a total like Sandford’s was a regular occurance as teams had 1 or 2 players who did all the bowling. With limited spells, to have a Second team bowling attack who can apply constant pressure for 45 overs and not exhaust all available options is extraordinary. The Two’s chase was calmly managed in 22.5 overs with 8 wickets remaining. Robin Dart led the way with 36 from 39 balls. Elsewhere, Ivybridge put a 215 run exclamation point on their victory over Paignton 2XI to become this year’s presumptive C Division West champions.
On Sunday, the same could be said for the Women’s Firsts as they delivered a10 wicket victory at Mountwise against Plymouth. Shini Al Khalid was electric with the new ball to take 7-3-19-3. Plymouth made progress while Keira De Villiers (58 from 45) was at the crease, but a brace for Holly Simpson and Sofia Oxenham curtailed the host’s innings at 138 in 30.1 overs. It only took 63 minutes for Gemma Lancaster and Evie Privett to chase down that score in 15.4 overs. Both batters dominated the Plymouth attack scoring 11 boundaries each. Gemma finished with 64 from 48 and Evie finished with 60 from 54. That partnership is the highest of the season for the Women’s Firsts, and the twelfth century partnership in the team’s history. With one game left to play in the league, the Women’s Firsts remain third.
Things went a bit awry for the Fours as they travelled to Torre Valley North to play Paignton 4XI. The Fours came into the game in one of 3 G Division West relegation places after a 5 point penalty was applied for a registration issue. Whitchurch posted an upset win away at PCS&R 2XI, so the Fours needed a big performance. Put into bat by Paignton, they were immediately under pressure by Paignton’s opening bowlers Jacob Lander (3-25) and Shinto Kunnathara Kuriakose (3-25). On a typical Torre Valley wicket, seven of the Fours batters were bowled as the team could only set a total of 111. Billy Criddle attacked for Paignton and his 40 from 47 got the hosts over the line by 5 wickets with 18.2 overs spare. A tough afternoon was made worse for Rocky Travers as a seagull raided his cricket bag to steal his teatime BLT and crisps while he was batting in the middle.
Only one colts match played this week as Yasser scored 31*, Samuel 27* and Charlie 23* in a close friendly win over Ipplepen. Plenty of Cornwood Colts were representing in Devon colours though. Megan skippered Devon’s Under 15 Girls to a 128 run win against Somerset and opened the batting with Kat against Cornwall on Sunday. Kat also played for Devon Girls Developmental Under 15s this week. Ayaan played for the Developmental Under 14s against Gloucestershire. Marriott and Rehaan both represented Devon Under 11s in a win against Cornwall. Sam hit 42 and took 1-35 for Devon Under 15s against Somerset. Alex opened the bowling for Devon Under 16s on Sunday, while Eoin also opened the bowling for the Developmental Under 13s on Tuesday.
The standout performance of the week though was Stanley playing for Devon Under 13s against Somerset. Stanley hit a jaw-dropping 143* from 125 balls with 16 fours and 2 sixes as part of a total of 276-4. Starting his innings in the third over, Stan reached 50 in 76 balls and was on 59 from 85 with 10 overs remaining. He moved through the gears and reached his first Devon ton in 111 balls after 36.5 overs. With just 25 balls remaining in the innings, Stan faced 15 and scored 42 more to reach an unchasable score that helped Devon to a 56 run win.
Next week, it’s a Paignton double bill with the Ones taking the Bank Holiday trip to the seaside and the Twos hosting at Oak Park. The Threes will play Bovey Tracey 3s at Delamore Park and the Fours will make the short trip to Ivybridge 3XI. On Sunday, the Women’s Firsts are in the Plate finals of the Super 8s, and the Fifths will be in action too.
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