Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League Division Two East round-up – Saturday, July 4

SKIPPER Jason Seldon led from the front as Werrington Seconds saw off fellow strugglers Menheniot-Looe by 58 runs at Ladycross.

Both teams knew the importance of the game, particularly with Bude and Holsworthy facing each other, but it was the visitors that started the better as openers Tom Lyle (12) and Sam Smeeth (5) went cheaply.

Toby Ward whacked four fours and his two sixes in a promising partnership with Ben Jenkin, however once Ward went to Brian Caddy for 36, the innings stuttered from 91-2 to 117-6.

Thankfully for the home side, Jenkin (45) found support from Seldon (24) as they put on 37, before tailenders Darren Webber (14) and Ian Searle (11) both made double figures in their 197 all out.

Menheniot-Looe were without skipper Steve Kidd and Jordan Duke (2-19 off 6) struck twice to make it 18-2.

At 60-2 the visitors were in decent position with Aussie Lachlan Embleton set and Ross Ripley (15) providing support, but Seldon soon dismissed the latter and Tom Harris in quick succession.

Sam Jordan hung around for nine before becoming Seldon’s third of the afternoon, and Seldon (5-36) had his five-fer with 116 on the board as first Embleton was lbw for 46, before stand-in captain Alex Caddy made just five.

The final three wickets mustered just 23 with Sam Smeeth (1-21 off 9), Webber (1-20 off 5.2) and Dan Jenkin (1-12 off 3) all enjoying success as they moved level on points with their visitors, and more importantly, 13 clear of second bottom Bude.

Tintagel have no such worries as they look to push towards the top two, but they had a day to forget with the bat at home to Lanhydrock.

The Bodmin side reached 47-1 with Amir Khan (28) and the dogged Luke Buckland (25) at the crease, but they conspired to lose eight wickets for just 47, shared between off-spinner Ryan Pooley (4-32) and seamer Gyles Reynolds (4-44).

But Lanhydrock have a lengthy line-up and saw youngster Nathanael James (16no) and skipper Jamie Eldridge (21) put on a crucial last wicket stand of 40 to give them a glimmer of hope.

On a small ground that ought to have been no trouble, but the Knights – still without skipper Matt Jolliffe – found themselves in serious trouble at 17-5 against paceman Ben Attfield (2-20 off 7) and Australian off-spinner Sam Remedios (3-14 off 9).

Sam Abbott and Simon Benney.
Tintagel wicketkeeper Sam Abbott plays the ball down the ground as opposite number Simon Benney watches on. (Picture: Martin Hatch).

With key men Jordan Burnard and Pooley gone, Tintagel dug in for a while through wicketkeeper Sam Abbott (9 off 30) and Aussie Jack Minehan (20 off 47), but both were gone with 58 on the board.

That didn’t stop the excellent Gyles Reynolds (37) from giving the chase a real go as he was joined by Vedavyas Kankanala (20), but having got to within 24 of victory and with three wickets in-hand, the latter was run-out.

Owen Barnes was bowled for a second ball nought, and Reynolds’ defiance was ended when he was caught off Jamie Eldridge (2-17) to end a thriller.

Elsewhere in the division, James Brenton made 77 not out as Callington Seconds eased to an eight-wicket success at home to St Blazey, while leaders Wadebridge Seconds thrashed St Austell Seconds by five wickets having dismissed the Saints for just 61, which included 6-3 from leg-spinner Ross McLachlan.