HOLSWORTHY skipper Ryan Walter admitted ‘we got away with it’ after they moved to within eight points of second bottom St Minver following their abandonment at promotion-chasing Lanhydrock on Saturday.

The Trees were 23 adrift with nine games to go in Division Two East of the Cornwall Cricket League, but after beating St Blazey and then picking up 11 points at the weekend, are now within touching distance.

That said, they were on the back foot as Lanhydrock – helped by 35 extras – raced along to 100-0 at better than a run a ball through Pakistani Amir Khan (47) and Luke Buckland (18).

But after Buckland was superbly caught in the gully by Graham Wild off Adam Lovejoy, Jack Greening got the big wicket of Khan lbw on the back-foot.

Jamie Taylor made 14 before a mix-up with Christian James saw him run-out by a combination of Shepherd and Walter behind the stumps, while the latter was bowled by the excellent Greening (2-19 off 9) for just a single (121-4).

Sam Stacey missed a simple catch at gully off Noah Pigdon to make it five down, and Horne and the hard-hitting Ben Attfield made them pay in style.

Horne struck six fours in his 58 not out but it was Attfield, who finished on exactly 100, that proved the difference in an innings that contained eight fours and five sixes.

The Trees then slipped to 25-3 in reply.

Greening (11) was bowled by Jacob Eldridge who soon had Aiden Gerry (6) caught by dad Jamie at short cover.

Shepherd (4) was caught at first-slip working the ball into the leg-side, but Holsworthy then responded well.

Brendan Harris – batting in an unfamiliar number three role – struck six fours and a six in his unbeaten 52 – while Pigdon and Stacey attacked.

Pigdon struck three fours and a six in his 29 while Stacey’s 23 contained two boundaries and the same number of maximums, one of which went into the pavilion.

Pigdon went when he edged Aussie Rowan Evans to Khan behind the stumps, while Stacey was caught at long-on off James.

Walter joined Harris and added 38 in decent time, but with the rain gradually getting worse, they went off never to return.

Walter admitted the elements were in their favour.

He said: “Looking back on Saturday, we got away with it really as we could easily have walked away with five or six points, so to get 11 we can’t complain and it was the best outcome possible.”

He continued: “We didn’t bowl well enough and although we pulled it back in the middle where Jack was really good and Adam (Lovejoy) bowled well, we were nowhere consistent enough.

“If we’d have taken the chance at 120-odd for four then it’d probably have been a different game, but we weren’t at it which was disappointing after the way we bowled the week before.

“It meant we needed a big old score, albeit it was a really good wicket and we took some confidence having chased 260-odd against them at home.

“But we didn’t get off to a very good start, and although Noah and Sam got in and Brendan batted really well for his fifty, needing 140-odd off 15 overs was going to be very tough ask.

“We were obviously well behind the eight-ball so the rain came at a good time.”

Holsworthy still have St Minver to play at home on the penultimate weekend (August 23), but making sure that game still has relevance is the aim.

Walter continued: “Obviously we got out of jail on Saturday and we’re now back to within one game as such.

“Realistically it’s probably going to be between us and St Minver, but all we can do is keep focusing on ourselves although that’s obviously easier said than done.”

Holsworthy have a big week coming up.

On Thursday night they welcome Callington Seconds in the quarter-final of the Division Two T20 Cup (6.15pm) before hosting neighbours Bude on Saturday (1pm).

Walter concluded: “With the position we’re in we need to target every game, but Bude are always tough to beat.

“We haven’t beaten them for a couple of games but we’ll be close to full-strength and targeting a victory.

“But before then we’ve got Callington at home. We’ve managed to get through to Finals Day twice in the last couple of years, and although we know it will be a tough game, we’d like to get through again.

“They have some really good players, but home advantage is often key and hopefully it will be again.”