CLIVE ROSEVEAR HAWKEY CUP

SEMI-FINAL

Werrington v

CALLINGTON put their patchy county league one form well and truly behind them with an exceptional victory in the Clive Rosevear Hawkey Cup semi-final at Werrington.

They beat the hosts, who are the cup holders and have won three of the last four competitions, by 17 runs and now go into the final on July 1.

Batting first, Callington's James Long and Murray Workman got them off to the best possible start, smacking 69 in under seven overs, before Workman fell on 28 when he skied a chance to Paul Smith off the third ball on Ben Smeeth's first over.

Both he and Long had hit opening quick bowlers Ian Worsnip and Sam Hockin all over the ground, but it was the change to spin that caused their downfall.

Long had hit three fours and three sixes in his 38 when he edged one to keeper Nick Lawson off Alex Smeeth's off spin. That wicket heralded a mini-collapse, as wickets began to tumble. Skipper Aidan Libby held things together with an effort of 23 before he was caught and bowled by Adam Hodgson, who, despite being the seventh bowler used, cleaned up the Callington tail to claim 4-11 from three overs. After their start, Callington were slightly disappointed with their 116 all out in 18.3 overs, with Ben Smeeth taking 3-11 and brother Alex 2-27.

Defending 116 was not going to be easy on Werrington's ground, but the opening bowlers Jim Shorten and Workman bowled tightly and early runs were at a premium. Workman tempted Alex Smeeth to drive a chance to Rob Dymond at mid on, and the same bowler then had Ben Smeeth caught behind by Joe White for 10 runs. Hodgson made 14 when he too was caught behind off Alex Robinson, and Cornwall's Paul Smith was on 16 when he holed out to Dymond on the roadside boundary off Nick Parker.

At 56-4 in the 14th over, Werrington were behind the run rate, but Mark Gribble made a quick 22 before he was caught at long on by Harry Geering, again off Parker.

Nick Lawson was threatening with 14 when he gave a return catch to Long, and with a well-deserved victory now in sight, Libby came back to skittle out the last two, to claim 3-13 from his three overs.

Workman had taken 3-14 early on, and Parker took 3-15, as Callington ran out victors by 17 runs.