Wales M C v Cornwall Match Page

Live updates direct from the ground at Pontarddulais.

Cornwall's cricketers came agonisingly close to clinching the Minor Counties Western Division title for the first time yesterday, despite their game in Wales being abandoned as a 'no result' due to a saturated ground. Only four overs were played in the entire match. Having led the table for half the season Cornwall were denied at the death by Cheshire. They clinched a late afternoon victory over Shropshire by five wickets, with just a couple of hours to spare on a dramatic final day when a rain interruption threatened to hold them up. Had Shropshire managed to survive for just another hour or so yesterday morning the game would have drawn and Cornwall would now be celebrating the title.

In the other key game Berkshire mounted a splendid rearguard to score over 400. They batted out most of the day to draw with title chasing Oxfordshire. It means Cornwall have finished second in the West division for the first time and are left to reflect on how close they came to history

Day 3 updates

Congratulations Cheshire!

4pm Cheshire are champions after beating Shropshire by five wickets making 201-5

3 15pm Cheshire 142-3 after rain and seemingly closing in on the title.

1 45pm Events elsewhere today: Berkshire 263-6 RSP at 1pm lead of 191 over Oxon

Shropshire 178 all out, Cheshire needing 199 to win the title are 43-1 RSP at 1pm

2 draws and Cornwall would take the title

11am Heavy rain showers have left the ground waterlogged and play has been abandoned as a N0 Result. 6 points each

Cornwall's hopes of winning the title seem even more unlikely following news last night that play has been vitually uninterrupted in the other key games while only 4.2 overs have been bowled at Pontarddulais.

After the third day abandonment Cornwall have ended on 89pts

After two days Oxfordshire are in a winning position at Newbury against Berkshire. Berks 288 & 117-5, Oxon 360. Berks are therefore effectively 45-5. Should Oxon win they will move to 97 points..

In the other top of the table game Shropshire 299 & 90-4, Cheshire 279 after being143-7. Should Cheshire win they would move to 101 points and win the title. Should Shropshire win they move to 90 points and would need Oxon to draw or lose.

Day 2     5pm update

Overnight rain has left the surrounds very wet. Early lunch at 12 30pm followed by an inspection. Current conditions full cloud and no wind.. Another heavy shower - pitch & ends covers on. Not looking good and the forecast yesterday of sunshine hasn't materilaised.

2pm Sun has been shining for the last half hour. Covers off and groundstaff moping up wet areas. With play possible until 8pm some play might yet be possible if the weather continues to improve -but it is wet..

2 45 pm Weather improving sun, and some wind at last. Inspection at 3pm. If play is posible an early tea will be taken before play resumes

3pm Early tea at 4pm followed by a further inspection.

4pm Sun shining but bowlers run up a real problem.

4 30 Another shower, full covers on pitch, run ups and the square. Play for the day looking doubtful

4 40 Play abandoned for the day without a ball bowled

Because 4.2 overs were bowled yesterday a one innings match cannot be played.

Lunch score at Whitchurch Cheshire 117-5 v Shropshire Tea score 200-8

Overnight scores Berkshire 288 all out, Oxfordshire 61-0 off 23 Berks 3pts, Oxford 4pts

Shropshire 299 all out Cheshire 0-0 rsp Shrops 3pts Cheshire 4pts

Day 1

Toss Wales. Cornwall will bat

11 15am Raining at Pontarddulais and Sunday's forecast is not good.

11 55 Surprisingly play has commenced

12.10 Cornwall 13-0 off 4.2 overs. Rain stopped play (Robins 9no, Angove 4no)

13 30 Rain continues to come and go. Prospects for the day not good.

15 30 Play called off for the day..

Teams Cornwall: Matt Rowe 12th man, Ben Smeeth 13th. Wales David Harrison replaces Chris Ashling Teams

Match Preview

Cornwall’s cricketers can make history over the next three days as they attempt to win a first ever title, in 106 years of trying. They start their final three-day Minor Counties Championship game of the season, against Wales Minor Counties at Pontarddulais this morning. A win, with at least four bonus points, will see them clinch the Western Division title. The closest Cornwall have been to silverware before was runners up to Oxfordshire in 1974, when Brian Laity’s side had the inspirational Dave Halfyard leading the attack. He took a record breaking 74 wickets in that season as Cornwall won four of their eight games. In those days all the championship results, across the country, were compiled into a single table. A play off between the top two sides took place to determine the champion county.

In 1983 the championship was re-organised and divided East and West with the respective winners playing off for the overall title . Cornwall’s best effort has been a third placed finish in 2003. Cornwall (83 pts) go into the final game holding a five point advantage over Cheshire, who end with a local derby just over the county border at Whitchurch against Shropshire. Shropshire (67 pts) are fourth and have plenty to play for with an outside chance of the title themselves . If they win, Cornwall lose and Oxfordshire (73 pts) fail to beat Berkshire at Newbury then the midland county could still snatch the title.

Wales Minor Counties in their five championship games this season have used a remarkable 27 players. The 356 run defeat to Cheshire last time out saw nine changes from the team that played Devon in the previous game. Today seven changes have been made from the Cheshire game with, notably, the return of Tom Maynard, son of Matthew. He made 38 for Glamorgan against Leicestershire in the LV County Championship whilst missing the last round of minor county games. Maynard hit a fifty in the televised Pro40 game against Middlesex at Cardiff on Wednesday. He is averaging 121 this season for Wales M C having made three centuries, including two in the same game against Wiltshire. Ben Wright, Ryan Watkins and Michael O’Shea also come back into the team. The three have also played for Glamorgan this season. Watkins, at 26 is the only player aged over 21 in a youthful Welsh line up. Seventeen year old opener Dan Roberts made a century in the last game against Cheshire. Only skipper Alex Jones, O’Shea and John Glover played in the 160 run defeat at Falmouth last year.

In contrast Cornwall have only used fourteen players in the championship this year, and all are travelling to Wales apart from Somerset’s Michael Munday. Werrington’s Sam Hockin retains his place in the squad, having taken six wickets on debut in the game against Devon. He was called up at the eleventh hour for injured clubmate Alex Smeeth, who returns after suffering an ankle injury. Apart from professional Keith Parsons the entire squad have come up through the Cornwall Schools’ system. Gary Thomas will have pleasant memories of Pontarddulais as he was part of the winning Cornish team in 1996, in their only previous visit. The two-day game was won by 59 runs. Gary Thomas and Steve Williams both made 59 in a 123 run opening partnership before professionals Mark Briers and Adam Seymour bowled Cornwall to victory.

Cornwall squad: Tom Sharp (Capt) (Truro), Keith Parsons (Taunton St Andrews), Gary Thomas (St Just), Matt Robins (Werrington), Antony Angove (Falmouth), Dan Davis (Callington), Chris Hunkin (Truro), Alex Smeeth (Werrington), Gavin Edwards wk (St Just), Rob Harrison (Newquay), Sam Hockin (Werrington), Ben Smeeth (Werrington), Matt Rowe (St Austell)

Wales M C : Alex Jones (Capt), Michael O’Shea , Dan Roberts, Rhodri Evans, Tom Maynard, Ben Wright, Oliver James, Ryan Watkins, John Glover, Chris Ashling, Gareth Slade (wk). ends