COUNTIES CRICKET Blake makes Cornwall cricket history
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- Last Updated on Monday, 28 July 2025 06:04
- Published on Sunday, 27 July 2025 20:00
The former Kent left-hander made 208 as Cornwall piled up against the defending Western Division champions, his third three figure score in the competition and the highest against Berkshire since 1949.
Cornwall were 68 for three when Blake arrived at the crease and he transformed the innings in a fourth wicket partnership of 180 with Xavie Clarke, the highest for any wicket for the county against Berkshire.
Clarke fell five short of what would have been a maiden Championship century when he went LBW to give Andy Rishton his fourth wicket, but Berkshire struggled to dislodge Blake.
Having reached his century from 110 balls, Blake sprinted to his double century from only 65 more deliveries, seven of which he struck for sixes and seven more for fours. Cornwall’s previous highest score in the competition was 194 made by George Rogers against Dorset at Camborne in 1938.
Alex Bone (30) played a valuable supporting innings in a sixth wicket stand of 91 and Blake reached his landmark with Jake Rowe as his partner before he was bowled aiming to pull off-spinner Adam Searle for his 12th six. Blake faced 177 balls and 146 of his runs came in boundaries.
Cornwall declared on 394 for eight and Berkshire openers Connor Lamsdale and Greg Smith survived two overs before the close.
A maiden century from Freddie Smith put Oxfordshire in command against Herefordshire at Eastnor in the other Western Division One match.
The wicketkeeper/batter turned a maiden Championship half-century into 125 not out which took Oxfordshire from 164 for six to 398 for nine in their 90 overs.
Smith shared a seventh wicket partnership of 55 with Luke Maslen, who was run out 13 short of his second Championship century, then stands of 68 for the eighth wicket with his captain Max Mannering and 87 and an unbroken one of 82 for the last with debutant Eesa Nadeem.
Nadeem then claimed opener Cyrus Shafi as his maiden wicket as Herefordshire closed on 32 for two.
Cheshire seamer Luke Young claimed Championship-best figures of six for 75 to dismiss Wiltshire for 239 at Alderley Edge in Western Division Two.
A half-century from Jack Mynott appeared to have laid the foundations for a more substantial total but Young triggered a mini-collapse which saw Wiltshire slip from 77 for one to 84 for four.
Captain Ed Young (48) and Chris Higton (40) led the recovery and Wiltshire then removed Cheshire’s top order as they closed on 80 for four.
Shropshire collapsed against Dorset at Wimborne where six wickets went down for 24 - and their last four for seven runs - after they had been put in.
Slow left-armers Mo Abbas – with a career-best four for 19 – and Connor Smith shared seven wickets and Shropshire, where 106 for four at one stage, were dismissed for 130.
Captain Luke Webb made 42 in helping Dorset gain a first innings lead but they were only 20 ahead with five wickets down at the close with seamer Ben Roberts and off-spinner Charlie Home sharing four of the wickets.
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