The Sweep 25 Week 7: Cornwood Ones and Twos shake a monkey from their backs
- Cornwood Cricket club
- Jun 17
- 7 min read
Words: Simon Travers
Match Photos: Ivor Thomas
Despite local deluges on Thursday and Friday, Cornwood’s Four DCL league teams were back in action after last week’s enforced rest. Both the Ones and Twos needed wins against opposition they have struggled against in recent seasons. The Ones welcomed Sandford to Oak Park in their first home game in a month. Sandford have notched one victory in their first six matches and their 2023 championship season aura, built around being able to chase down any total, has been tarnished. However, the visitor’s recent record against Cornwood is impressive with 8 wins in the last 10 matches and captain Jackson Thompson always brings his best to The Wood. An away win on Saturday would place Sandford above Cornwood in the table and leave The Ones reaching for the Louis Vuitton with a handbags-at-dawn relegation rumble looming.
The Ones wobbled in the first few overs with 2 quick wickets for Jamie Palmer but they found their equilibrium through Chris Parker and Ben Beaumont. The pair grafted through the opening spell to build the necessary platform for a significant innings. That platform blossomed over 24 overs into a 115 partnership. Beaumont started to press as the spinners were introduced with the flair of a Richie Richardson in a wide-brimmed floppy hat. He reached 57 from 83 balls before becoming the first of Jackson Thompson’s (3-35) 3 wickets. We can all celebrate Ben’s first half century for Cornwood since 29th July, 2023. Chris Parker (36 from 80) departed almost immediately after to turn the innings over to the middle order. It was never easy for The One’s batters. Matt Skeemer had to work for 90 minutes to reach 33. UAE international Aryan Lakra provided control for the fielding side and James Theedom (3-45) gathered late wickets. The Ones closed their innings on 214 all out and could justifiably consider themselves slightly ahead in the first exchanges.
Matt Skeemer took the chance to remind the league of his skills with an opening spell of 8-3-15-3 that inflicted significant damage on Sandford’s chase. A spectacular diving catch from keeper Matt Butterworth removed Ciaran Grey. Matt then took 2 in 2 balls, including clipping the top of Jackson Thompson’s off stump just as he was starting to motor. 46-3 turned into 64-6 as Jack Ormsby, Elliott Staddon and Lee Baker came to the party. Once again, Lee’s bowling dominated the second half of the innings, taking 7-0-36-4. Lee is currently the third highest wicket taker in the Premier Division with 16 dismissals at an average of 12 and an economy rate of 3.44. While Sandford had Aryan Lakra at the crease, they were still nominally in the game. When Jack Ormsby prised him out with a catch from Ben Beaumont, the final wickets tumbled and Sandford were bowled out for 122. That is a comprehensive 92 run victory for the Ones.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, match of the day was Paignton against Bradninch & Kentisbeare. Paignton looked to have the upper hand bowling out Bradninch for 163, but then collapsed to 74. Exmouth’s imposing first innings total was too much for Exeter. Plymouth thrashed Sidmouth away, and neither Heathcoat or North Devon was helped by an abandonment. Cornwood are in sixth in the table, 45 points behind Bradninch & Kentisbeare but a full 20 ahead of Sandford in ninth.
The Twos travelled to The Butts at Kingsbridge looking to reinstated their lead in C Division West. The last time that the Twos won away at Kingsbridge was July 2019 when Lee Baker took 4-17 and Mark Roca hit 65*. Since Cornwood’s first season in the DCL, when the Ones were bowled for a still record worst 29, the club have found interesting ways to lose at Kingsbridge and that tradition has proved hard to shake in recent years.
Robin Dart won the toss and stuck the hosts into bat. That decision almost had immediate rewards when Jack Brown was caught of a no ball on the second ball of the innings. Brown (31 from 26) looked to cash in but was caught at slip off James Richardson’s bowling. Richardson made it two by removing South African Conner Rothwell without scoring. James Westlake (42) and James Fletcher doubled the Kingsbridge score with a 54 run third wicket partnership, before the Caunters rebalanced the game at 118-5. Alex Browne (31) looked to take the innings away again from the Twos but he was one of three victims for Alex Robinson’s off spin (7.5-0-35-3) as Kingsbridge finished on 187 all out.
Cornwood’s reply was never going to be smooth and the Twos were 31-3 after 13 overs. With Neil Peach and Bhanu DeSilva (3-31) working in tandem, patience was essential. Craig Harris (39) and Sam Griffiths collaborated for 62 for the 4th wicket to ensure the game was finely balanced at 93-5 with 18 overs remaining. The run rate wasn’t a challenge for the Twos but holding onto wickets was. Jack Brown’s off spin (3-58) threatened to the end, but a solid 31 from 34 for Harry Woolway put Cornwood in reach. Matt Puttock and James Richardson brought a counter attacking punch but couldn’t quite make it to the end. The red ink was awarded to the Caunter brothers as Josiah flicked a boundary off his legs for a one wicket win. It was a small margin, but a massive win puts Cornwood back on top of C Division West as Ashburton lost.
In Midweek, The Twos put up a creditable performance in a Corinthian Cup T20 match against a full strength Ivybridge. 4-27 for Will Sharp kept Ivybridge 20 runs below what they hoped to reach batting first. With Zimbabwean first-class seamer Tinashe Muchawaya and Josh Coker opening the bowling, the hosts still had plenty. Stanley Baker looked good though with an attacking knock of 25 from 23.
On Sunday, the Women’s Firsts were in DWCL action at Oak Park against North Devon. The Tarka Ladies are the form team in Devon with an exceptional away win at Exeter on their CV. Put into bat, North Devon assembled two meaningful partnerships on the way to 200-5 in 35 overs. Megan Snape (35) and Issie Ollis (30) put on 75 for the first wicket and then Rose Ball and Kate Williams (28) put on 81 for the third. Ball did the damage for North Devon with 68 from 62 including 10 boundaries. Gemma Lancaster led the way with ball (2-31) and bat for Cornwood. It was a day to get out the running shoes as 31 of Gemma’s 53 from 61 were made in twos and threes. Kat Frost helped keep the momentum ticking over with an efficient 30 but wickets started to tumble. Megan Snape took 3-21 and the Women’s Firsts were bowled out for 162. Cornwood are fifth in the table with games in hand.
Andy Bees featured with both bat and ball as the Threes won by 50 runs against Tavistock 2XI at Delamore Park. Tavistock’s put the Threes in and Brett Thomas tore through to figures of 9-3-18-5. Despite having batting depth, the Threes were wounded at 83-7. Defensive efforts from Duncan Cumberland and Ayaan Chatterjee held on long enough to get past Tavistock’ main bowlers. Andy Bees took advantage of that opportunity by hitting 48* from 66 with 5 fours and 2 sixes. Working in partnership with Dan Skeemer, 83-7 turned into 170-8.
The Tavistock innings started as it finished with Josh Cumberland and Andy Bees taking wickets. Bees took two early wickets to put the visitors 17-3. Tony Bicknell (34) and Marc Webber (31) provided resistance, but both the Threes opening bowlers proved irresistible in their second spells. Andy Bees took the honours board slot with 9-4-14-5 while Josh Cumberland bowled 6.5-2-16-4 as Tavistock collapsed to 120. The Threes are third in the table, just three points behind Abbotskerswell.
The Fours almost made it a clean sweep as Chagford snuck past them for a nailbiting two wicket victory. Put into bat, the Fours benefitted from Ewan Horner’s 41 before Julian Burrows provided the bulk of the scoring. Julian hit 13 boundaries on the way to 77 from 66 balls in a total of 183-7. Lily Sargeant was the best of the Chagford bowlers with 4-19. The Fours youth wing started well as early wickets from Charlie Cawardine put Chagford at 22-3. However, there was no answer for Ben Lanyon’s powerful match-winning innings. Lanyon hit 94 from 77 with 12 fours and 3 sixes to put the Hosts in the driving seat. Late wickets from Neel Shivane and Marc Whaley brought the Fours back into the game at the death. Both bowlers held their nerve as Chagford needed 2 from the last 10 balls, not conceding a run and taking two wickets until Nigel Letheren scored the winning runs with a ball to spare. Despite the home win, Cornwood stay above Chagford in the table at eighth.
The Fives delivered a performance at picturesque Holbeton that demonstrated growth and learning in real time. Winning the toss and batting, Rocky Travers’ provided the kickstart with 48 in 29 balls. Only three team members could get served at a bar, but the team batted with maturity to negotiate their overs for a total of 165-8. Seb Clewer batted with patience and power for 31 from 34 and there were strong cameos for Noah Garland and Charlie Martyn. Lessons from earlier season games are beginning to pay off as Holbeton were routed for 71. Chief instigator was Tommy Burrows with figures of 6-2-7-5, the best single match analysis across the club so far this year. That five-fer included a perfectly executed hat-trick in the sixth over and a tumbling caught and bowled. Chris Willcox scored 42 from 53 for the dignity, before Charlie Martyn closed proceedings. Charlie deserved his wicket, as 30 of his 32 deliveries were dot balls.
The Girls under 15s team were Colts performers of the week beating Bovey Tracey and Plymouth on back-to-back nights. Erica hit 25* and Frankie took a brace against Bovey Tracey. Frankie then hit 25* and Charlotte took 2-27 in a four run win against Plymouth. Olive hit 20 while Freddie and Jacob took 2 wickets as the Under 11s lost by 2 runs to Plymouth. There were mixed fortunes in the Under 13s as the Tier 1 team lost by 5 wickets to Ivybridge as Yasser scored 20 and Rehaan took 2 wickets. The Tier 2 team beat Hatherleigh with 40 for Yasser, 27 for Marriott and 3-4 for Rehaan. The Tier 2 Under 15s lost by 2 wickets to Plymouth, with Raff, Sam, Freddie and Eoin in the runs.
On Wednesday, the Ones host Tavistock in the Devon T20 before making a weekend seaside trip to Paignton. It’s a top of the table clash at Oak Park as the Twos take on Ashburton. The Threes host Stokeinteignhead while the Fours head to Whitchurch. Sunday sees the Women’s Firsts head to Plymouth, while the Threes pull double duty with a T20 matchup. The Fives also have a game against the Madri Boys.
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