The Sweep 25 Week 16: 3 Tons, 2 Runners Up Slots and a record-breaking partnership
- Cornwood Cricket club
- Aug 19
- 8 min read
Words: Simon Travers
Match Photos: Ivor Thomas
Well! Where to start? The Twos, Threes, and Fours all came into Week 16 with their season’s fortunes in the balance. On Sunday, the Threes and Womens Super8’s squads both challenged for silverware. This week’s round up starts with the Ones as they drove to Creedy Park to take on Sandford. Cornwood hoped to snap a three match losing streak, while Sandford are still battling Sidmouth and Heathcoat to avoid relegation. Sandford were ruthless in chasing any opposition total in their championship season of 2023. Coming into the match against the Ones, 6 of their 9 league losses had come from not being able to defend a total batting first.
Jackson Thompson’s option to bat first found his team immediately under pressure. James Theedom made his List-A debut for Somerset in the week, but was bowled second ball by Matt Skeemer. Two slip catches by Sam Griffiths meant the hosts were 24-3. The batting side recovered with a 128 partnership for the fourth wicket between UAE international Aryan Lakra (68 from 80) and Adam Small (76 from 92). When Lakra departed as the first of three catches to keeper Noah Carlisle, Sandford started to drop wickets rapidly. Lee Baker was responsible for removing both Small and Jackson Thompson on the way to figures of 3-43. A late run a ball 42 from Thomas Maidment was enough to get Sandford to a total of 253-9 in their 50 overs. That was the sixth time that Sandford have scored 250+ against the Ones, which is the most times of any DCL team.
The Ones recovered from two quick wickets as Ben Beaumont powered to 42 before being given LBW. At 75-4, Elliott Staddon joined Matt Skeemer at the crease with the team needing 179 runs at 6.67 an over. The pair set about blunting the spin threat of Lakra and Thompson. Both batters looked comfortable and fluent as they worked through the gears. Skeemer reached 50 first in 64 balls with an elegant cover drive. Elliott reached his half-century in 67 balls with a pull to midwicket off Matt Jeacock. Sandford couldn’t find a way to apply pressure as the runs required dwindled rapidly. Skeemer took more of the initiative and pushed towards a century. He almost made it. With 4 required to win, Matt needed 5 for a ton off the last ball of the 48th over. Sandford brought the field in to protect the single. Matt went aerial but ended up hitting a one bounce boundary for the 6 wicket win. Matt finished on 99* from 107 and Elliott ended on 70* from 93. Their partnership of 179* broke the One’s 5th Wicket partnership record for the second time this season and ranks as the fifth highest partnership in First XI DCL history. The win lifts Cornwood back up to fourth in the Premier Division table.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, the title race was blown open as Paignton won away at Bradninch & Kentisbeare. Exmouth’s demolition of Exeter means they are only 5 points behind the leaders. Exmouth v Bradninch & Kentisbeare next Saturday probably decides the title. North Devon dragged Heathcoat back into the relegation zone with a 57 run win, while Sidmouth’s victory against Plymouth means our Mountwise neighbours are not safe yet.
When Robin Dart took on the Twos captaincy in 2022, he had a dream to see the team promoted to B Division and stay there within 10 years. With only one team promoted each year, C Division West champions have to be a step beyond a pack of well resourced clubs and stress-tested beyond their limits. Robin has proved to be a great captain. The Twos have talent in depth but it’s no accident their worst performance of the year was the one game Robin wasn’t available. Robin brings the best out of teammates, he sets the team culture and holds the vision.
On Saturday at Oak Park against Kingsbridge, the Twos faced their latest backs to the wall moment. They were 57-4 in 17.3 overs. Connor Rothwell (3-27) inflicted a heavy blow on the Cornwood top order. Neal Peach was doing what he’s done for over 40 years of visits to Oak Park, nagging on a length and proving impossible to get off the square. Ashburton were up early against Teignmouth & Shaldon. Captain Robin picked up the team and put it on his back. Kingsbridge would wait another 17.4 overs for a wicket as Robin’s attack balanced Charlie Farmer’s defence (30 from 68) in a partnership of 81. Then it was go-time as Robin and Will Sharp (40* from 28) put on 110 in 55 balls. Robin fell four balls short of going coast-to-coast over 45 overs as the Twos put the game out of reach with 255-6. He earned the right to go large, defending early to be 36* from his first 70 balls. His last 50 balls went for 87, reaching his 50 in 82 balls and his 100 in 107. Across his innings, Robin charged the entire Kingsbridge attack for 18 fours and 2 sixes.
The Twos were clinical in the field to ensure a 114 run victory. James Fletcher dug deep for 47 for the visitors, but Josiah Caunter (3-24), Ethan Carlisle (2-24) and the welcome return of Max Finzel (2-11) proved plenty to take 20 points. Ashburton completed their victory over Teignmouth & Shaldon to set up next Saturday’s C Division West decider at Varwell Field. If the Twos win, they’ll need bonus points in their last game for promotion, if they lose they’ll need a miracle. It’s just one more must-win game in a season full of them.
The Threes had a weekend of mixed fortunes. On Saturday, they didn’t rise to the occasion in an E Division West promotion battle with Tavistock 2XI. A swift 30 from Max Daniels was the only positive as David Milligan took a decisive 5-33 in a 9 wicket victory for Tavistock.
Sunday was a grander occasion as the team travelled to Cullompton for the Tidball Insurance Cup finals day. The Threes were drawn in the first semi final against Fileigh. The Threes were arguably underdogs as Fileigh continue their rebuild to high level cricket after withdrawing their team from the league in 2019. Adam Whiting won the toss and elected to field on a batting friendly track. Albert Buckley shone for Fileigh hitting 71 from 30, while Gerrie De Beer hit 29 from 18 as Fileigh scored 205-9 in their twenty. There was a brace of wickets each for Charlie Martyn, Andy Bees, Ethan Carlisle and Mike Hodge. Ewan Grewal made immediate inroads into that total with 51 from 20 including 5 sixes in an over from Angus Holt. Ethan Carlisle then smashed 92 from 49 balls with 4 fours and 10 sixes. Ethan’s efforts meant that Charlie Farmer and Adam Whiting needed 12 to win off the last over. Without reaching a boundary, they ran 9 from the first 5, leaving 3 to win or 2 to tie from the last ball. One last effort got the two for the tie which proved enough on fewer wickets lost for a finals berth and a memorable win.
The final against Clyst St George 2XI proved a game too far. The Threes put Clyst St George in and conceded 207-9. Tiaan Van Der Walt hit 70 from 32 and Harry Attwater made 43 from 22. Mike Hodge led the bowling with 3-25 with wickets too for Ethan Carlisle and Ayaan Chatterjee. The Threes couldn’t make a fast enough start to put pressure on Clyst St George. Ethan Carlisle excelled again with 65 from 52 but the team finished runners up by 38 runs on a great day out for the team.
The Women’s Super8 team also had a finals day at Bovey Tracey, playing against Whimple to defend the Plate trophy they won last season. Helly Simpson won the toss, elected to bat, and then delivered the goods with 33* from 25 balls. There was also 30* from 28 for Imogen Garland as the team reached a creditable 130-2 from their 16 overs. Whimple had the firepower to reach that total for a 4 wicket win in 12.4 overs. Megan Drury (30* from 34) and Holly Welsh (32* from 18) both completed a retirement knock.
That was not the end of the afternoon’s action though. Taunton Deane conceded the final of the Super8s trophy to Plymouth. That made space for players from Cornwood to join forces with Bovey Tracey against Plymouth in the Kelly Luscombe Invitational match. Plymouth scored 130-3 in their 16 overs with Lucy Hulbert making 30* from 16. There was a wicket each for Frankie Lee and Hannah Bale. Gemma Lancaster then led from the front with 30 from 17, Laura Bale made 27 from 15 and Frankie Lee scored 20 from 17 while Melissa Banks kept the batting side honest with 3-12. The combined Bovey Tracey/Cornwood side went on to win by 4 wickets, reaching their target in 9.3 overs.
The Fours took a big step towards G Division West safety on Saturday with a comprehensive 98 run victory over 9th placed Chagford 2XI. Put into bat, the opening partnership of Charles Knight and Ollie Offer (58 from 63) made 146 in 23.1 overs. Ollie’s departure brought Anunt Dhulkotia to the crease. In the week of the British Fireworks Championship, Anunt lit the fuse and volley after volley disappeared over the leg side boundary. Anunt hit 102 from 55 with 14 fours and 4 sixes before falling to Jim Mawle (8-0-29-2). Meanwhile, Charles was still pushing hard at the other end for his first ton since 2018. He reached the milestone with 3 balls left in the innings, making 102* from 111 with 15 fours and a six. Nathan Parsons added insult to injury with 24* from 10 as the Fours finished on 323-2.
Chagford’s openers Ben Lanyon (77 from 56) and Roger Whittingham (44 from 48) tried to copy the Fours with a 125 run opening partnership. That was broken by the experience of Dave Stubbs who extinguished Chagford’s top order with figures of 4-33. Marc Whaley kept the momentum flowing with 3-20 as the Fours bowled their opponents out for 225. The win lifts the Fours to seventh place, 26 points beyond Chagford. They need 15 more points to ensure their safety in their last two matches.
The Girls Under 15s had an exceptional week with two convincing wins. On Monday, they beat Bovey Tracey at home by 6 wickets. Frankie Lee led the chase with a retirement 30* from 18 balls, while Erica Upton scored 20* from 19. On Friday, the team beat Chagford by 74 runs. Batting first they went at 10 an over with Frankie Lee again scoring 33* from 19 and Imogen Garland making 30* from 29. The bowling unit were economical to ensure Chagford could not match the run rate. The week’s matches highlight what an exceptional season Frankie Lee has had at Under 15s level. She is top runscorer in her division with 187 at 93.5 and a strike rate of 144.96 including a 51* against Paignton. Frankie is also tied for the division top wicket taker with 9 victims at an average of 10.
Next weekend, the big matches keep coming. Saturday is your last chance of the year to see the Ones play at Oak Park as they host Paignton. However, the Twos would also benefit from any travelling support as they face Ashburton away. The Threes need an away win at Stokeinteignhead to keep their promotion chase alive. The Fours know a win against bottom placed Whitchurch would be enough for safety. On Sunday, the Fives face the Pearse Brothers.
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