MCCA Unicorns Championship Western Division 2018 — Cornwall v Devon at Werrington — Sunday, July 8 to Tuesday, July 10

PAUL Smith and Tom Dinnis starred on their home ground as Cornwall defeated Devon by six wickets in their MCCA Unicorns Championship Western Division clash at Werrington last week.

The Duchy went into the game looking to bounce back from a convincing defeat at Herefordshire in their opener, and were in desperate need of a result as red-ball Minor Counties cricket came back to Ladycross for the first time since 1999.

After weeks of hot weather, it was no surprise that Devon skipper Josh Bess won the toss and chose to bat, although it was Dinnis who made hay in the summer sunshine.

Bowling with genuine pace, the former Menheniot-Looe and Callington seamer took 5-46 either side of lunch to dismiss Devon for just 136 inside 44.3 overs with only Bess (58) and brother Zac (21) making much of a contribution.

In reply, Cornwall, who were boosted by the inclusion of former Looe and Callington batsman Jake Libby, who nowadays opens the batting for Nottinghamshire in Division One of the Specsavers County Championship, knew that they could potentially take the game away from Keith Donahue’s side with a big first-innings score.

However despite reaching 104-1 after Libby (67) and Somerset second-teamer Lewis Goldsworthy (32) put on 65 for the first wicket, Cornwall collapsed to 143-7 with Falmouth off-spinner Jamie Stephens (6-92) doing most of the damage.

However Smith, who was dropped first ball at short-leg by Dan Pyle off Stephens, and Andrew Libby combined to add an unbroken 73 until close for the eighth wicket, with Smith combining sensible cricket with some of his trademark big shots to end the day unbeaten on 49 with three fours and as many sixes to his name.

On the second morning, Smith (83 not out) continued to wield the willow, and after Libby (25) and Nathan Pobega (16) added more vital runs, they were eventually all out for 271.

Despite trailing by 135, Devon knew that the small boundaries and excellent wicket meant they could get back into the game, and that’s what they did over the next four sessions.

Although opener Tom Ansell was trapped lbw by Tommy Sturgess for just three, this brought former Somerset batsman Alex Barrow to the crease and he showed his class in a majestic 163 which spanned over four hours and saw him hit 26 fours until he was dismissed by Jake Libby. He was well supported by wicket-keeper Matthew Thompson’s dogged 40.

Devon ended the day on 298-5 with Josh Bess unbeaten on 32.

With an overnight lead of 163, Devon decided to push on the afterburners in the morning session.

Bess made 88 while Stephens’ fine all-round match continued as he struck 97 before he was eventually dismissed by Sturgess (3-105) just three short of his century.

Soon after, Bess declared on 469-7 leaving Cornwall needing 335 off 67 overs to win.

Devon’s declaration looked like it was going to pay off as Goldsworthy (5), Thomas Rowe (11) and skipper Matthew Rowe (5) were all dismissed with less than 50 on the board.

However the key wicket was always going to be Libby as he showed the form which saw him recently score a ton for Notts against Worcestershire.

He found a willing partner in professional Sam Wood as they added 140 for the fourth wicket with Wood making 69 before he was caugh at short fine-leg by Josh Bess off Stephens looking to smash a third consecutive six.

This brought Werrington skipper Smith to the crease with just over 20 overs remaining and the duo, who came up through the CSCA (Cornwall Schools Cricket Association) ranks together, barely gave Devon a sniff.

After giving himself a couple of sighters, Smith soon launched a remarkable assault on their cross-Tamar rivals.

With Libby accumulating runs from the other end at will, Smith targeted his favoured mid-wicket area off the spinners, while he looked to hit anything overpitched.

In the end, such was the ease they knocked off the 102 required from the final hour of play (17 overs), it was almost a surprise it took them until midway through the 65th over to do so.

Libby ended unbeaten on 142 from 198 balls while Smith’s rapid 86 not out came from just 62 balls with eight fours and three sixes.

Libby concluded proceedings by thrashing a four through the off-side as all four corners of the ground stood to applaud a classic contest.

Reflecting on the three days, Werrington chairman, Richard Jenkin believed that the ending was ‘perfection’.

He said: “It was an unbelievable three days and the weather was so kind, while our two representatives, Paul Smith and Tom Dinnis, contributed in a big way. For Cornwall to win the game in the penultimate over was great.

“We were very honoured to be asked to host it and we hope that the county will consider us for another fixture at some point in the future.

“There was a big crowd with people coming from both sides and it was a great team effort from everyone at the club.

“The groundsman (Keith Moore) had been preparing the wicket for a couple of weeks and the ladies’ committee organised a team for each day.”

With temperatures soaring across the three days, Jenkin admits the weather was a massive help.

He said: “We didn’t have to worry about the covers at all and everybody seemed to really enjoy the whole three days. My thanks go to everybody at the club who contributed in anyway to making it such a success.

“We had an email from each team thanking us for the hospitality. They said how impressed they were with the hospitality and the warm welcome.

“Overall it was a great event for the club and it’s pulled everyone together. For Smithy to be at the wicket with Jake Libby on the final day was just perfection.”

Jenkin’s comments were echoed by groundsman Keith Moore, who admitted he couldn’t have asked for anymore from his wicket, even though he admitted to being slightly worried at close on the first day.

He said: “I was very pleased with how the pitch played. I started it a fortnight out from the game and it got a bit dry after six days.

“We then had to roll it out after some rain and I had to leave a fair bit of grass on it, else it wouldn’t have lasted the three days.

“On the first morning it did a fair bit which reflected in Devon’s 136 all out which saw Tom Dinnis bowl really well. On the second day it really flattened out and I was really chuffed with how it panned out.

“That said, I was quietly concerned after the first day but looking at the pitch it was down to some loose shots and good bowling.

“I thought that if someone could get in they could score heavily on it and that was proved by Alex Barrow’s 163 and the fact they got 400 plus.

“The declaration was a fair one but Libby and Smithy were unbelievable, you can’t ask for anymore, it’s one of the best games I’ve ever seen and with Smithy being a Werrington lad I was very proud of him!”

Cornwall’s next three-day game starts this Sunday when they entertain Wiltshire at St Austell.

Devon 136 (J Bess 58, Z Bess 21; T Dinnis 5-46, A Libby 2-9, J Libby 2-41) and 426-7 dec (A Barrow 163, J Stephens 97, J Bess 89, M Thompson 40, J Mailling 26, Z Bess 21no; T Sturgess 3-105) lost to Cornwall 271 (P Smith 83no, J Libby 67, L Goldsworthy 32, A Libby 25; J Stephens 6-92, J Bess 3-31) and 335-4 (J Libby 142no, P Smith 86no, S Wood 69; J Hagan-Burt 2-34, J Stephens 2-85) by six wickets.