Saturday, May 15

Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League (Division Two East)

Holsworthy (146-4, 35.1 overs)

St Blazey (144-8, off 45 overs)

SAM Stacey’s unbeaten half century guided Holsworthy to a comfortable six-wicket victory over St Blazey at Stanhope Park in Division Two East of the Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League.

Despite the poor weather in the build-up, the ground was deemed fit to start, and home skipper Ryan Walter chose to field upon winning the toss.

Blazey scrapped their way to 144-8 off their 45 overs, with Dan Smith (3-30) and Rob Mitchell (2-36) sharing five wickets.

After Jack May (42) and Aiden Gerry (13) got the innings off to a good start, Stacey and Jack Greening saw them over the line.

St Blazey had lost their opening three games and were up against it from the start as Matt Shepherd bowled Jowan Isbell with the second ball of the match.

Captain Rory Dixon moved himself down to number three, but after hitting a boundary, was superbly caught and bowled by Greening (2-30).

Blazey rebuilt through stand-in opener Simon Dixon and Josh Carne, before Dixon was castled by Greening for 19.

Key man Paul Carne was bowled by Dan Smith for nine, and although Olly Mitchell (23) and Josh Carne (42) got the score to 105-4, Mitchell’s left-armers accounted for both men in quick succession.

From there, Blazey decided to batten down the hatches and bat out the rest of the innings, with Keith Reid making an unbeaten 22, and number ten Ryan Stephens one not out from 19 balls.

Holsworthy required 145 to win against a side missing Andrew Thomas and Miguel Cardoso.

Openers Jack May and Aiden Gerry carefully added 51 for the first wicket before Gerry was caught and bowled by Reid off a leading edge.

May and Stacey then took the score to 81 before May, who had struck seven fours in his 42, was caught at slip by Mitchell off Reid, who bowled his 12 overs straight through.

This sparked a wobble as Shepherd was caught at long-off for a single off Rory Dixon, while Walter was caught behind off Stephens for just 2.

Stacey grew in confidence as his innings progressed, targeting the boundary through the covers and midwicket.

He eventually ended unbeaten on 59 with 11 fours, while Greening eased to 16 off 20 balls when they crossed the finishing line.

Walter admitted it was a comfortable afternoon.

He said: “It was a really good win. We bowled and fielded really well and bowled in the right areas, which meant we didn’t give them much. I was pleased for Dan Smith who bowled really well. Then with the bat, Jack and Aiden got us off to a good start in nullifying Keith Reid. Then, even though we lost a couple in the middle, Sam and Jack saw us over the line with ease.”

Holsworthy are scheduled to visit Launceston on Saturday, and Walter wants his side to continue their solid start to life in the third tier.

He said: “We should have the same 11 as Saturday and we’ll look to carry on like we have been. I’m expecting a bit more of a challenge from Launceston than we got against St Blazey. We haven’t come across their first team before in a league game, so we’re expecting a really interesting local derby.”