Cornwall Cricket League County Division One Callington v Helston

CALLINGTON did their promotion hopes no harm at all with this thrilling victory against table topping Helston at Moores Park.

In sunny conditions, Helston won the toss and as expected, decided to bat. They lost a wicket in the fourth over when their overseas player Werner Potgieter was caught in the gulley by Rob Dymond off Jim Shorten.

Another 37 were added before a great caught and bowled by Josh Murray-Dustan dismissed Mark Jenkin for 28. JMD then followed that up with the wicket of Chris Martin, for just two.

The partnership of the innings was between Dan Jenkin and Ben Rule, who added 82 before Alex Robinson trapped Jenkin leg before, after the Helston skipper had made 72, including 13 fours. Rule and Tommy Sturgess added another 71 with Sturgess hitting five big sixes in his 49 before he too went lbw, this time to Aidan Libby.

The tail was mopped up by Libby and Shorten, with Rule remaining not out on 50 from 86 balls.

The Helston total of 238 was a challenging one, and the visitors had an air of confidence about them at tea. The best Callington bowler was Shorten, who bowled 10 overs taking 3-37.

It takes a special player to come out and hit a large hundred after tea, but Murray Workman is a special player.

After 12 overs Callington were 27-3 and hopes of a win were fading fast. However, Workman stepped up to the plate and constructed a masterful innings of 143 not out, to win the game for his adopted club. Although the innings included 13 fours and five sixes, this was no crash bang, wallop knock, as Workman treated the bowling with respect, while dealing severely with the bad balls. He and Alex Robinson, who made 34, added 135 for the fourth wicket, and the home cause was helped by the Helston bowlers donating 35 runs in extras.

However, the reply was all about Workman whose 143 came in 135 balls, and had some seasoned members purring that it was the best knock ever seen by a Callington player. The game was won in the 48th over, and Sturgess capped a fine personal display by taking 3-56.

Callington (19 points) beat Helston (eight) by four wickets.