COUNTIES CRICKET Captain's century rescues Cornwall
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- Created on Monday, 19 August 2024 23:10
- Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 August 2024 08:55
- Published on Monday, 19 August 2024 23:10
- Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent
Cornwall were deep in trouble and in danger of following on when they slipped to 198 for nine in response to Cheshire’s first innings 396.
Smith was on 16 when last man Ellis Whiteford joined him but he turned the match on its head in spectacular fashion, plundering 133 from 180 balls to take Cornwall to 350 all out and maximum batting points.
Smith struck six sixes, three of them out of the ground including two that landed in the Shropshire Union Canal, while Whiteford gave him excellent support with 22 not out in a last wicket partnership of 152.
Smith, a proud Cornishman, celebrated his century by tapping the county crest on his sweater with his bat and was given a standing ovation by his team-mates and an appreciative crowd when he eventually fell narrowly failing to clear the ropes again.
Left-arm quick Michael Finan took four wickets in his first bowl for Cheshire in two years after stints with Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. But they came at a cost, not helped by a rash of no balls.
The forecast rain arrived shortly after tea with Cheshire 55 ahead and needing to keep a watchful eye on events at Banbury where Devon again had the better of the day against hosts Oxfordshire.
A career-best 96 from captain Max Mannering, 56 from Tristan Rossouw and 49 from Jamie Harrison took Oxfordshire to 301 all out but Devon still enjoyed a sizeable first innings lead of 101.
By the close Devon had extended that to 251 with four second innings wickets in hand thanks to a half-century from Lawrence Walker and 49 from captain James Horler.
The promotion places in Western Division Two are still up for grabs although Wales NC’s interest in the latter ended with a nine wickets defeat inside two days against Wiltshire at Abergavenny.
Former Gloucestershire all-rounder Will Naish made a Championship-best 94 not out from 93 balls to take Wiltshire to 321 and a lead of 160 despite a five wicket haul for Wales’ Northamptonshire leg-spinner Alex Russell.
Brad Wadlan’s 88 held Wales together in their second innings but they were dismissed for 229 after another disciplined team bowling performance from Wiltshire who coasted to a target of 70 inside 12 overs for the loss of one wicket.
The promotion place will be decided at Eastnor where Shropshire still have plenty of work to do to avoid defeat by Herefordshire.
A county record seventh wicket partnership of 159 between Luke Tulacz – with a career-best 88 not out – and Nick Hammond (87 not out) helped Herefordshire to pile up 416 for nine in their first innings and a hefty lead of 238.
But Shropshire responded with an unbroken second wicket partnership of 156 between Peter Clark (73 not out) and Tom Fell (85 not out).
Shropshire ended the day still 59 adrift but they need only a draw to secure promotion while Herefordshire must win if they are to overtake their Midlands rivals.
Durant Cricket National Counties Championship
Second day of three
Eastern Division One
High Wycombe: Staffordshire 275-8 dec (Reeve Evitts 93, Callum Hawkins 65 not out, Conner Haddow 5-92) & 199-7, Buckinghamshire 259 (Cameron Parsons 61, Tom Brett 7-112).
Copdock: Lincolnshire 326-9 dec (Ben Wright 126, Joe Pocklington 55, Jack Beaumont 4-68) & 139-7 (Qundeel Haider 64 not out, Josh Cantrell 4-38), Suffolk 438-5 (Jack Beaumont 115, Darren Ironside 94, George Rhodes 94 not out).
Western Division One
Chester Boughton Hall: Cheshire 396 (Harry Dearden 188, Dan Newton 57, Will MacVicar 5-72) & 9-0, Cornwall 350 (Paul Smith 133, Michael Finan 4-111).
Banbury: Devon 402-8 (Sam Elstone 156, Ben Privett 75, Ben Beaumont 73) & 150-6 (Lawrence Walker 54), Oxfordshire 301 (Max Mannering 96, Tristan Rossouw 56).
Eastern Division Two
Hertford: Northumberland 202 (John Oswell 61, Harry Crawshaw 51) 7 239-6 (Harry Crawshaw 92), Hertfordshire 419-8 (Dominic Chatfield 189 not out, Andrew Neal 96, Troy Henry 51 not out).
Horsford: Cambridgeshire 194 (Ben Claydon 54, Brett Stolworthy 5-71) & 176-9 (Will Routledge 61 not out), Norfolk 195 (Sam Arthurton 108, James Cox 6-81, Matt Rees 4-50).
Western Division Two
Eastnor: Shropshire 178 (Simon Gregory 60) & 179-1 (Tom Fell 85 not out, Peter Clark 73 not out), Herefordshire 416-9 Luke Tulacz 88 not out, Nick Hammond 87 not out, Ben Chapman-Lilley 51, Henry Cullen 51).
Abergavenny: Wales NC 161 & 229 (Brad Wadlan 88), Wiltshire 321 (Will Naish 94 not out, Josh Kelly 61, Alex Russell 5-82) & 73-1. Wiltshire (23pts) beat Wales NC (4pts) by nine wickets
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