Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League Division Two East round-up – Saturday, August 15

HOLSWORTHY’S survival hopes took a huge blow on Saturday as Bude’s agonising defeat at high-flying ensured the Seasiders have a mountain to climb over the final two weekends.

The Devonians headed to Lanhydrock with an 11-point lead over Menheniot-Looe in the race to finish outside of the bottom two, and after a fine start through Guy Beagley (27) and Jack Greening (32) were dismissed for 181, home skipper Jamie Eldridge taking 7-38 with his fast off-spin.

Holsworthy, who also saw Brendan Harris (44no) and Aiden Gerry (31) make starts, made the hosts work hard in reply, led by veteran left-arm spinner Graham Wild’s superb figures of 4-38, but Lanhydrock got over the line by two wickets.

However, up at Menheniot, the hosts saw off Tintagel by just one run to hand the Knights a second straight defeat.

The Knights chose to field and restricted the hosts to a competitive 207-7, although a slight disappointment having had the East Cornwall side 63-4. Ryan Pooley led the way with 2-26, while Leo Agacy (2-44) got a couple of crucial breakthroughs.

Agacy (51 off 50) then walloped ten early boundaries as Tintagel started well in reply, but 65-0 became 100-3 with their three best players – Agacy, Matt Jolliffe (14) and Pooley (10) out.

Wicketkeeper Sam Abbott came to the rescue with a brilliant 68, but he struggled for support bar Jordan Burnard’s 21 which took 75 deliveries.

Wickets continued to fall at the other end, but Abbott got the equation down to 13 needed off the last with just last man Rocco Reynolds for company.

Abbott brilliantly struck home skipper Steve Kidd for a four and six after a first ball wide, but he was bowled off the penultimate ball as the hosts moved a point clear of trouble ahead of Saturday’s clash at bottom side Bude.

The Seasiders put in a much-improved performance at Callington Seconds, but a 40-run last wicket partnership between Zak Newton-Jenkins and Jim Shorten got the Greens over the line.

Chasing 208, Cally lost wickets throughout, but Ben Allsop’s excellent 90 kept them in the contest as he took advantage of some loose bowling.

However, off-spinner Andrew De Rosa (2-32) kept them in the game, and after Wayne Adams dismissed Allsop, Matt Williams (3-33) ran through the lower order before the hosts’ late revival.

Earlier in the afternoon, Bude did superbly to post 207-7 having been 11-3 as skipper Warren Rumble (58) and Matt Whitefield (74) both made steady half centuries before Tom Wigley’s 25 got them up to maximum points. Ryan Hodge was superb for his 3-23.

However, the Seasiders remain 27 points from safety with just 40 available.

Werrington Seconds’ superb end of season form continued as they held leaders Wadebridge Seconds to a tie at Ladycross.

Werrington’s 213 all out was based around thirties from Ben Jenkin (39) and Dan Jenkin (33) plus 28 from George Rickard as Ollie Bate (3-25) and Jamie Beare (3-21) shared six.

The Swans raced to 79-0 via Sam Richards (60) and Beare (44), but Beare’s departure to the brilliant Sam Smeeth (4-15 off 9) saw the Swans eventually stumble to 149-7.

However, Jack Gill (26) and man-of-the-match Bate (40no) off 32) added 47 before the visitors managed 18 off the last three overs to force a tie.