CORNWOOD has borne the brunt of the summer rains and a very damp outfield and an even wetter wicket meant a half-hour delay to the match with Sidmouth 2nd XI and it being reduced to 46 overs each.

Cornwood won the toss and without hesitation inserted Sidmouth. The decision seemed vindicated with three wickets falling for 15.

By the end of the 15th over Sidmouth were 37-4 and staring down the barrel. Enter Jamie Wardrop and Dan Powell who patiently began rebuilding the innings, picking up ones and twos and the occasional boundary.

Their partnership was finally ended in the 40th over after they had put on 101 when Powell was caught at first slip. Jamie continued to score freely, however his innings was brought to an end in the 43rd over after he had scored an invaluable and accomplished 72.

This partnership was the turning point in the game and, after cameos from Charlie Miles, who smashed the only six of the day in his 25 not out, and Henry Gater, 16 not out, Sidmouth closed on a creditable 196-6 after their 46 overs.

Cornwood’s reply was helped on its way by some rather wayward bowling. However, with the score on 19, two wickets fell in consecutive overs to the Gater brothers, Will and Henry.

A third wicket partnership of 60 kept Cornwood up with the required run rate and, when drinks were taken after the 23rd over, Cornwood were 89-3 and needed another .

The skipper then decided he needed to bring on his most experienced bowler, Charlie Dibble and in his first over he took two wickets. Eight overs later the spin duo of Dibble and Dom Bess had ended the Cornwood innings. Bess ended with figures of 2-19 in 12 overs and Dibble claimed 5-4 in two balls short of five overs.

At 37 for 4, many believed Sidmouth would struggle to reach 100. To nearly double that and then bowl the opposition out on a helpful pitch was a fine effort.

The result keeps pressure on the league leaders Bovey Tracey, who are 10 points ahead. With games against Tavistock next week and Exmouth in the last game, nothing less than 40 points will do against the bottom two teams.