CORNWALL County Cricket Club will start their defence of the Unicorns Knock Out Trophy with a visit to Instow, on Sunday, April 24, to take on old rivals Devon.

For geographical reasons Cornwall and Devon always find themselves in the same KO group. It’s the third time the counties have been scheduled to meet at North Devon CC. Devon won by seven wickets in 2007 whilst the 2012 clash was called off, on the eve of the game, due to a saturated ground.

Dorset also remain in the group and are joined by Berkshire and Oxfordshire, who replace Wiltshire and Wales MC.

The game against Berkshire on Sunday, May 1 is a repeat of last year’s quarter-final at Truro’s Boscawen Park. Cornwall comfortably won by seven wickets, after the visitors had been bowled out for 174.

The game away to Dorset will actually be played in Somerset, at North Perrott.

The final group game is against Oxfordshire, at Werrington on May 22. The previous meetings saw Cornwall win the 2005 quarter-final at Falmouth, the 2012 tie at St Austell was washed out, while a year later Cornwall won by 16 runs at Challow and Childrey.

The Post will keep readers updated on Cornwall’s progress this year as they look to bring their trophy back to the Duchy.