CRICKET Cornwall take control, Wiltshire fightback
- Details
- Created on Tuesday, 25 July 2023 11:05
- Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 July 2023 11:10
- Published on Tuesday, 25 July 2023 11:05
- Written by PAUL BOLTON National Counties Cricket correspondent
Alex Blake limbered up for his surprise recall to Kent’s LV=County Championship squad by helping Cornwall take control of their Durant Cricket National Counties Championship Western Division Two match against Shropshire at Bridgnorth.
Blake’s day began with a phone call from Kent head coach Matt Walker to check on his availability for the County Championship match against Nottinghamshire which starts at Trent Bridge today to help bolster an injury-ravaged squad.
The call was unexpected as Blake’s last first-class appearance came four years ago, he is on a white ball-only contract and he had travelled to the Midlands without any of his Kent red ball kit.
Having quickly renegotiated the terms of his contract and arranged for his Kent whites to be transported to Nottingham, left-hander Blake followed his century for Cornwall against Dorset two weeks ago with an attacking 73 before he departed for Trent Bridge at tea time.
Cornwall were given dispensation to bring in a substitute for the final day of the match and registered Nottinghamshire and England Under-19 all-rounder Fateh Singh to replace Blake.
Having dashed from Nottingham, slow left-armer Singh struck with his first ball in National Counties cricket when he had former Worcestershire batter Tom Fell LBW just before the close.
Blake’s entertaining 76-ball innings, which included four sixes and six fours, helped Cornwall to 427 all out and a lead of 111.
But he was eclipsed by his good friend Will MacVicar who plundered 116 – his maiden century – from 139 balls as Cornwall accelerated either side of tea.
MacVicar added 127 for the fifth wicket with his captain Paul Smith (66) and although slow left-armer Peter Clark and leg-spinner Sam Whitney took seven wickets between them they came at the cost of 205 runs.
Earlier seamers Ben Roberts and Sam Ellis had caused problems after a delayed start following heavy overnight rain had seeped under the covers.
Wiltshire fought back well at Corsham where solid batting down the order with half-centuries from Jack Mynott (83), Ed Young (68), Jake Goodwin (66) and Jack Stearman (58) plus a rapid 43 from Harry Broderick restricted Wales NC’s first innings lead to 51. Former Somerset left arm pace bowler Jack Harding took four for 61 for Wales.
Wiltshire’s new ball pair Arthur Godsal and Chris Aubrey then had Wales struggling at 16 for three at the start of their second innings before they closed on 32 for four.
Defending champions Berkshire were frustrated by a combination of rain and stubborn Oxfordshire resistance on the second day at Thame in Western Division One.
Rain prevented play until mid-afternoon but seamer Tom Nugent quickly reduced Oxfordshire to 15 for three.
But George Tait, who took four first innings wickets, came to the rescue with bat making 71 not out with skipper Olly Clarke (48 not out) and Tom Hinley (35) giving him excellent support.
Tait and Clarke’s unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 106 took Oxfordshire to 175 for four at the close, 139 adrift of Berkshire.
Overnight rain wiped out the second successive day at Alderley Edge and with no play today Cheshire’s match against Herefordshire was abandoned.
Durant Cricket National Counties Championship
Second day of three
Eastern Division One
Sleaford: Lincolnshire 194 (Ben Wright 58), Suffolk 174-4 (George Rhodes 80 not out, Ben Parker 65).
West Bromwich Dartmouth: Staffordshire 206 (Matthew Morris 71) & 70-3, Buckinghamshire 330-8 dec (Michael Payne 86, Alex Woodland 65).
Western Division One
Alderley Edge: Cheshire v Herefordshire. No play Sunday/Monday/today – rain. Match abandoned.
Thame: Berkshire 314 (Dan Lincoln 80), Oxfordshire 175-4 (George Tait 71 not out).
Eastern Division One
Bishop’s Stortford: Hertfordshire 158, Cumbria 174-8 (JJ Fielding 53).
Bedford School: Northumberland 128 (Jamal Richards 6-23) & 212-8 (Ross Whitfield 104). Bedfordshire 208 (Fayaz Homyoon 54, Oli McGee 5-70).
Western Division Two
Bridgnorth: Shropshire 316 (Ollie Westbury 85, Tom Fell 55, Tim Maxfield 53) & 72-2, Cornwall 427 (Will MacVicar 116, Alex Blake 73 Paul Smith 66).
Corsham: Wales NC 408-9 (Cameron Herring 171 not out) & 32-4, Wiltshire (Jack Mynott 83, Jack Stearman 58).
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
