Minor Counties Championship 2003

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Cornwall v Devon at Truro C C 1/2/3 June

Oxfordshire v Cornwall at Challow & Childrey 22/23/24 June

Wales MC v Cornwall at St Helens, Swansea 29/30 June/1 July

Cornwall v Cheshire at St Austell 14/15/16 July

Cornwall v Wiltshire at Canborne 27/28/29 July

Herefordshire v Cornwall at Luctonians CC 16/17/18 August

Herefordshire v Cornwall at Luctonians CC     Cornwall won by 65 runs

Devon beat Berksire by 162 runs to take the title . Cornwall 11 points behind in 3rd

Cornwall's Minor Counties Championship season ended on a high note on with a 65 run win against Herefordshire at Luctonians CC., Kingsland. Herefordshire were admitted to the championship eleven years ago and this was a first win on their soil for Cornwall and only the second success following the 96 run triumph at Falmouth in 1995. The victory will be of scant consolation for the County however, as it is very much a case of 'what could have been' this year, if the weather had been kinder. Devon won by 162 runs at Berkshire on the final day to clinch the Western title but they finished only 11 points ahead of the Duchy who should end in 3rd position - to be confirmed. With 24 points going begging when the home games at St Austell and Camborne were both abandoned due to heavy rain, with Cornwall in strong positions, added to the failure to force a win at Swansea despite taking a first innings lead of 246 runs and thus having to settle for only 12 points instead of possibly 24, the fact is that it could very well have been Cornwall's year, for the first time, in a century of trying.

The win against Herefordshire was even more noteworthy as the Cornish side lacked five regulars. Without the experienced Justin Stephens, Jon Kent, Gary Thomas, Gavin Edwards and the injured Chris Hunkin the worst might have been feared against last year's champions. The replacements were Rob Harrison, Neil Ivamy (both Newquay), Tony Matthews (Falmouth), who each made a single championship debut appearance earlier this season, and new caps 18 year old Alex Tunnadine of Menheniot and Marcus Gilbert of Callington who all made contributions.

Cornwall got off to a poor start on Sunday losing James Hands and Martin Pearce for ducks to former Test bowler Martin McCague with only 5 on the board. The depth in the batting this year again shone as Ryan Driver made 136, David Roberts 47, Tom Sharp 74 and there was 83 at the end from Tunnadine, including a last wicket stand of 64 with Ivamy to see Cornwall to an impressive 400 all out. Driver's century was the sixth by Cornish batsmen this year (Driver 2, Roberts 2, Thomas 1, Hands 1) equalling the all time record for Cornwall in the Championship set in 1995. Last years leading Minor Counties wicket-taker Kevin Cooper was wicketless in 18 overs.

The Newquay pairing of Harrison and Driver soon had the home team at 22-3 but they recovered well to declare on 327-9 in their first innings. Sharp took 3-75. Second time around Cornwall made 216 all out. David Roberts hit 56 and Ben Price 25 but it was Ivamy with 29 not out that ensured a target of 290. Former Worcestershire player Matthew Rawnsley took 6-79.

Herefordshire's second innings began with early wickets again for both Driver and Harrison. At one stage the home team recovered to 146-4 but with all five bowlers used getting amongst the wickets Cornwall wrapped up a great win. Ivamy completed a memorable game to take 3-35. He was undefeated in both innings scoring 47 and had match figures of 4-59 from 23 overs.

Cornwall last game of the season is away to Holland in the C & G Trophy next Thursday.

Cornwall 400 (RC Driver 136, AR Tunnadine 83, TG Sharp 74, DJ Roberts 47; M McCague 4-128).

Herefordshire 327-9 dec (I Dawood 84, M Rawnsley 70 no, NH Davies 52; RC Driver 17-4-72-1, R Harrison 10-4-36-2, N Ivamy 9-0-24-1, TM Matthews 7-1-23-0, JM Hands 22-2-82-2, TG Sharp 17.1-3-75-3).

Cornwall (2nd Inns) 216 (DJ Roberts 56, N Ivamy 29, BP Price 25; NM Rawnsley 6-79).

Herefordshire (2nd Inns) 224 (HV Patel 60, JE Brinkley 47; RC Driver 15-4-46-3, RJ Harrison 5-0-22-1, JM Hands 11-2-42-1, TG Sharp 16-2-66-1, N Ivamy 14-0-35-3).

Cornwall (24pts) beat Herefordshire (6pts) by 65 runs.

Cornwall v Wiltshire

Day 2 - No Play . Play abandoned for the day at 2.45pm

Day 3

Due to heavy rain and drizzle from around 10. 30am the match was abandoned as a draw at 11.15am. Cornwall 8 pts, Wiltshire 6 pts.

Ryan Diver takes Cornwall's first wicket on Sunday but the weather won with days 2 & 3 washed out

Cornwall v Wiltshire Cornwall enjoyed the best of the opening day of their Minor Counties Championship, top of the table clash, with Wiltshire at Camborne.. They ended the day 15 runs ahead with five first innings wickets remaining. Despite the recent deluge play got underway promptly at 11am and was uninterrupted, on a mostly sunny day. The weather again though looks to be playing its part into the outcome of this season's championship as a downpour, within half an hour of the close of play , and a less than promising forecast for today doesn't augur too well.

The game moved at a pace yesterday with 318 runs scored and 15 wickets falling. Wiltshire after being put in, not surprisingly on a drying pitch, lost Chris Budd lbw to Ryan Driver for 1 in the 7th over. Richard Bates was run out thanks to a fine piece of work from Chris Hunkin , whose direct hit run him out backing up, for 6. Cornwall got well on top before lunch when Jamie Glasson was picked up at slip by David Roberts off Driver. Wiltshire skipper Russell Rowe had his leg stump knocked back by Driver soon after and when Baquar Rivzi became a fourth victim for the Newquay all rounder the visitors had big problems at 39-5. The rot was stopped with an excellent sixth wicket stand of 99 between James Hibberd and Mike Coles.

They batted into the afternoon session before Driver bowled Coles at 138. Cornwall sensed their chance to wrap up the innings and did so in quick time with Justin Stephens claming the last four wickets. Hibberd was left high and dry on 76 not out off 130 balls with 13 fours. Driver took 5-49 from 26 overs and Stephens late burst brought him 4-62. With James Hands not in the team Martin Pearce was promoted to open but fell for 12, caught by Coles at slip, off seamer Kevin Nash.. David Roberts stroked four boundaries in his 22, to add 48 with Thomas, before he was trapped lbw by Hibberd. Ben Price fell in the same fashion, first ball, at 71-3 as Hibberd could do no wrong on the day. Richard Bates, with his right arm spin from the scorebox end, had Sharp caught at slip for 12 then he got Gary Thomas to drag one on. Thomas's 48 came off 71 balls and included 8 fours.

Cornwall were wobbling a little at 103-5 but a sensible unbeaten partnership of 55 between Jon Kent (37 no) and Driver (22 no) gave the home team a narrow first innings lead by the close. With the likes of Chris Hunkin, Gavin Edwards and Stephens still to come and with 55 overs still available in the first innings there is still the opportunity for a sizeable Cornish lead - weather permitting!

WILTSHIRE

CRJ Budd lbw b Driver 1

MJ Glasson c Roberts b Driver 23

RJ Bates run out 6

RJ Rowe b Driver 3

B Rizvi b Driver 0

MS Coles b Driver 27

J Hibberd not out 76

TN Shardlow lbw b Stephens 0

KJ Nash c Roberts b Stephens 2

KD Bedbrook lbw b Stephens 0

JP Searle c Edwards b Stephens 3

Extras 12

Total (all out in 62.5 overs) 153

Fall:14-28-35-38-39-138-143-145-147-153

Bowling: JCJ Stephens 24.5-8-62-4, RC Driver 26-8-49-5, CA Hunkin 5-2-14-0, TG Sharp 5-1-13-0, MK Munday 2-0-8-0

CORNWALL

AM Pearce c Coles b Nash 12

GM Thomas b Bates 48

DJ Roberts lbw b Hibberd 22

BP Price lbw b Hibberd 0

TG Sharp c Glasson b Bates 12

RC Driver not out 22

JP Kent not out 37

Extras 15

Total (5 wkts, 45 overs) 168

To bat: GD Edwards, CA Hunkin, JCJ Stephens, MK Munday

Fall: 23-71-71-96-103

Bowling: KD Bedbrook 10-1-47-0. KJ Nash 12-2-36-1, MS Coles 3-0-19-0, J Hibberd 5-2-11-1, RJ Bates 7-1-25-2, JP Searle 8-2-27-0

Umpires G Randall-Johnson & J Jones

Points: Cornwall 4pts Wiltshire 2pts

Cornwall v Cheshire Day 3 Update

No Play on Day 3 (Wed) due to heavy rain saturating the outfield. Match Abandoned as a draw at 3pm

Cornwall 12 pts, Cheshire10 pts

Cheshire trailed by 6 runs with 3 second innings wickets left

Cornwall's hopes of pulling off a win in their Minor Counties Championship game with Cheshire at St Austell were denied by the weather with the final day being abandoned due to heavy overnight rain which continued through the day. The game was called off at 3pm. Cornwall finished well on top after outplaying the northern County over the two days. Cheshire are traditionally strong opposition with Cornwall not having recorded a win in the 19 years of annual Championship matches played.

On a sweltering first day it looked like business as usual with Cheshire, on electing to bat, reaching 132-1. Skipper Andrew Hall made 95 but his dismissal signalled a collapse. Justin Stephens in an excellent spell took 5-83 and Ryan Driver 3-90 to bowl Cheshire out for 253. Cornwall reached stumps on the first day at 149-3 with James Hands (48) and Gary Thomas (31) putting on 93 for the first wicket. On the second morning David Roberts and Ben Price (35) added 99 for the fourth wicket to put Cornwall in sight of parity. Roberts completed a century after lunch but a mini collapse threatened the chances of a good lead and at one stage even maximum batting points at 325 runs. The depth of the Cornish batting though came through as Gavin Edwards (23) and Chris Hunkin (29 no) put on a lively 48 for the 9th wicket to see the total up to 367 all out and a lead of 114.

Cheshire lost Hall second time around, brilliantly caught by Driver in the gully. Stephens also got rid of Din but at 76-2 there was little sign of the dramatic events to come. Skipper Sharp came on with his off spin from the Town End and with an attacking field wickets fell. He took 4-24 from 16 overs and with James Hands bowling in tandem and taking 1-13 of 13 overs Cornwall were looking to wrap the game up in two days. With the score at the scheduled close on 109-7, still five runs in deficit, Cornwall asked for the extra half hour but the umpires ruled that they didn't think play was likely to finish on the day. The likelihood of Cornwall having to bat again and gloomy light being taken into account in their deliberation. Cornwall's 12 points maintained their top spot but the top six teams are cvered by just 6 points.

2nd Day action from Wheal Eliza, St Austell

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Wales MC v Cornwall

Cornwall's cricketers returned home from Swansea disappointed, after having to settle for a draw in their Minor Counties Championship game with Wales MC. For the first day and a half the County dominated the game but a great rearguard action from the Welsh meant Cornwall having to be content with 12 points. This was enough however to take them to a clear lead at the top of the Western Division of the Minor Counties and with home games against Cheshire and Wiltshire and a trip to Herefordshire to come there is everything to play for.

Things could hardly have gone better for Cornwall on the opening day. Bowlers Rob Harrison and Neil Ivamy of Newquay, both making their debuts, played a full part as Wales were dismissed for 140 in the 45th over. Left arm spinner Ivamy returned the excellent figures of 21-8-28-4. Harrison took 2-30 and skipper Tom Sharp 3-27. Cornwall motored to 177-1 for the loss of Martin Pearce (27) at the close. Next morning Gary Thomas reached his tenth championship century. Only Malcolm Dunstan (12) and Steve Williams (10) have achieved the feat. With David Roberts making 72 (sharing 126 for the second wicket with Thomas), Ben Price 70 and Jon Kent 56 not out Cornwall declared, with 9 overs of the first innings maximum of 100 unused, on 386-5.

Wales had 63 overs left on day 2 and a deficit of 246 but any hopes Cornwall had of repeating their two-day success at Falmouth last year were soon dispelled. By the close 155 had been knocked off for the lost of 2 wickets and, with the pitch playing well, the writing was on the wall. With survival and a draw the only realistic option for the home team the third day had the potential to be long and tedious. That's was what the sparse crowd at St Helens had to endure as the Welsh batsmen set out to occupy the crease all day.

Opener Arwel Thomas was dismissed by Gary Thomas for 77 and when Owain Hopkins was caught behind off the bowling of Hunkin for 25 at 205-4 Cornwall still had hopes. They were ended by Gareth Reece who made an unbeaten on 104. Owen Dawkins was a second wicket for Hunkin but David Lloyd (29 no) kept Reece company to add an unbeaten 82 for the sixth wicket. Just after 4pm everyone was put out of their misery when the game was called off with at least around 24 overs still available. The Cornish bowlers had the culture shock of being in the field for 145 overs. Ivamy sent down 38 overs taking 1-84 and Hunkin took 2-78 from 27 overs as 9 bowlers were used.

Gary Thomas's 10th championship century, 162 balls, 207 mins, 15 fours),

Wales batted out the third day to reach 407-5 with the match being drawn

Match Drawn Wales 6pts, Cornwall 12 pts.

Newquay's Rob Harrison and Neil Ivamy who both took wickets on debut

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Oxfordshire v Cornwall   Oxfordshire v Cornwall Photos   Crickinfo scorecard

Cornwall's cricketers returned home from the Vale of the White Horse having comprehensively completed a 9 wicket win in their Minor Counties Championship game over Oxfordshire at Challow & Childrey. The County enjoyed a great three days to beat Oxfordshire for the first time since the 1995 success at St Austell. Even more relevant was that it was the first success on Oxfordshire soil for 27 years (13 trips), when the County won at Oxford (St Edwards) in 1976 by 8 wickets. Away wins there have been rare in Oxfordshire over the years with the only other successes in 28 visits being in 1947 and 1953.

This latest victory was built on a memorable first day when Cornwall topped over 400 for only the sixth time ever (last was the 436-8 v Devon at Penzance on 25th July 1951) - albeit the three day format allows for longer innings nowadays. Their 408-9 declared in 91 overs centred on a fantastic stand of 274 for the third wicket between Ryan Driver who hit 151 and James Hands with 131 - both hitting maiden championship centuries. This was after they came together at 14-2. Their partnership was the fourth highest on record for the County and best since Bill Murphy and Jimmy Vincent shared a 287 stand against Dorset at Penzance in 1955.

Oxfordshire were bowled out for 246 on the second day with Driver and Hands again in the action - this time with the ball. Driver took 5-80 and Hands 4-68. The home team at 213-6 looked to have a chance of reaching the follow on figure of 259 but the last 4 wickets fell for 33. They lost a late wicket after being asked by Cornish skipper Tom Sharp to bat again. For a time on the final day they looked capable of denying the Cornish the spoils as they reached 131-3 around lunchtime. The end came quickly in the afternoon though as Tom Sharp took career best figures of 6-26, with the last five wickets dramatically falling for just 2 runs. Rob Williams having been undefeated on 78 in the first innings was denied a century as he finished 92 not out. Cornwall were left needing 12 to win but did lose Gary Thomas, cheaply, for the second time in the match.

Cornwall 2nd Innings 12-0 (Hands not out 7, Thomas c Lynch b Launder7, Roberts not out 4)

Cornwall (24pts) beat Oxfordshire (6pts) by 9 wickets

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Cornwall v Devon           Crickinfo full scorecard

Cornwall's opening Minor Counties Championship game of the season, against old rivals Devon, ended in a draw at Truro despite a last afternoon declaration with both captains agreeing to try to make something of the game ruined by the weather. It was a fairly predictable result considering that half the first day and more than a third of the final day was lost to rain. There was plenty of good action to savour in the play that was possible however, and a number of milestones for the archives. In the 750th match Cornwall have played in the Championship Justin Stephens reached a personal milestone. He passed 100 Championship wickets on his thirty-first appearance and became the twenty-fourth bowler in County history to do so. David Roberts in scoring a second innings century, became the fiftieth player to achieve a Championship hundred for the County, and it was the first notched since Gary Thomas obliged against Shropshire at Camborne three years ago. Also for good measure Andy Pugh was playing his hundredth game in a distinguished career for Devon.

On the opening morning Cornwall would certainly have taken a draw as their innings stuttered, under overcast skies, to 22-5 at one point. Roberts (41) and Sharp (52) gained some respectability taking it to 140-7 at stumps. The good work was extended next morning by Martin Pearce, who cracked a career county best of 78 not out as the heights of 218 were reached. He was well supported by new boys Tony Matthews (Falmouth, formerly Mullion) and Lee Caddy Helston) as the last two wickets put on 44 and 34 respectively. Both had received last minute call ups with Chris Hunkin, Gavin & Tim Edwards all withdrawing late due to injuries. Callington's Ian Bishop took 8 for 99 in a fine spell of 35 overs. Devon, under sunny skies, reached 127-2 and looked set for a good lead but 2 wickets in an over by Ryan Driver set them back. Stephens then returned from the river end to take 5-59 . Tom Sharp, admirably filled the spinners role with Hands, Munday and Smeeth all being unavailable. He took 2-46 off 26 overs in a long spell from the city end. As if by fate the Devon innings ended also on 218. Gary Thomas cracked 7 fours in the 50 minutes left on the second evening as the lead was extended to 49. Thomas was dismissed caught behind, for 33 just before the close.

Third day morning rain prevented play until 1pm. Cornwall sped to 211 without losing a wicket off 39 overs. Roberts, in his debut match made a classy 112 not out with Neil Stoddard helping himself to 58. The fact that Bishop only bowled 7 overs underlined the nature of the bowling . Devon were set 212 in 50 overs. As was only expected they had a go but at 109-5 with 14 overs left, they shut up shop and sensibly opted for the draw.

Cornwall 218 off 78.4 overs - after being 10-3 and 17-4 & 22-5

& 211-1 dec

Devon 218 & 138-6 Match Drawn

Cornwall 1st Innings

Stoddard lbw Bishop 4

Thomas c Pugh b Proctor 4

Roberts lbw b Bishop 41

Driver lbw b Bishop 0

Price b Bishop 5

Gazzard c Townsend b Bishop 5

Sharp c Pugh b Bishop 52

Pearce not out 78

Stephens c Bettis b Bishop 5

Matthews c Dawson b Bishop 6

Caddy c Dawson b Anning 8

Extras 10

Bishop 35-8-99-8

Devon 1st innings

218 all out.

A Pugh 70, R Foan 49; Stephens 27-10-59-5 (including his 100th Championship wicket),

Driver 16-3-47-3, Sharp 26-6-46-2, Matthews 6-0-36-0, Caddy 6-2-21-0

Cornwall Second Innings

Thomas c Dawson b Jones 33        (7 x 4)

Stoddard   not out 58

Roberts not out 112

Extras 8

Total 211-1 dec

Final Day - delayed start until 1pm

Devon set 212 in 50 overs

Close 138-6

R Foan 40, A Pugh 30; Stephens 18-5-37-1, Driver 15-5-35-2, Sharp 13-3-45-2, Caddy 4-0-16-1

Match drawn Cornwall 9 pts Devon 9 pts

Cornwall Team - New Caps Tony Matthews (Falmouth), Lee Caddy (Helston). Carl Gazzard included as wk.

Withdrawals from original 13- Chris Hunkin, Gavin Edwards, Tim Edwards, Nick Carter, Rob Harrison

Cornwall- Sharp, Thomas, Stoddard, Pearce, Price, Roberts, Gazzard, Driver, Stephens, Matthews, Caddy

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