V Cornwall @ Taunton 13 April 2006

The Cornish Boys

(photos courtesy of Alain Lockyer)

Well about the only cricket we'll see in April is happening. The rain has't come (yet) and we've put them in. The side? Wood (capt), Frank Jr, Hildreth, Durston, Parsons K, Gazzard, Trego (with large amounts of hair), Edwards (at 8?) Andrew, Caddick, Willoughby and Frank Sr.

It might not be a very long game if the first 5 overs are anything to come by. Willoughby looks interesting. Strange sort of languid action but it seems to do the business because he gets the first wicket for single figures. Caddick is also pounding in but the slip fielders seem to think he needs some practice so they keep droppng the batsmen and making Andrew do it all again. Finally after two attempts he gets one as well and there's still not many on the board.

It seems our 2006 South African is something of a fielder as well (for those of you who remember the 20/20 semi, it might have been a glitch). He runs out batsman number 3 from near the fence on te cemetary side. The straight throw at the stumps is to the CA Pavilion end and must have been 50 yards. Bodes well!

Gareth Andrew looks good, as does Pete Trego despite the semi-mullet. They are the change bowlers in this side. At 42 in the 27th over GA links with Mr Edwards to get rid of number 4 caught in the semi-deep.

First dodgy call of the season in the 28th when Trego gets a real dubious LBW call - he turns around with his hand over his mouth as the ball weaves down leg side. The batsman walks, the umpire ponders and then calls the poor guy back. I wonder if that will happen in the full season....we shall wait and see.

First Strike Trio? Willoughby/Caddick/Trego

Before we let them get to 50, another shock occurs...Gareth Andrew bowls a straight one and skittles another Cornishman. 50 up for 5 but not a lot more by the 30th - 70 runs is all we have to contend with at the moment.

Parsons and Durston take over and there's a bit of a partnership (although not that much). The score rockets to 93 before KP gets on the sheet with a wicket courtesy of Edwards' bucket hands. Cornwall pass three figure in the 37th which brings Willoughby back to partner KP. One of the Kernow guys (local knowledge you see!) takes a liking to Mr W and the score moves along a bit and they have 119 with 10 overs to go, including a six to the CA.

This run 'madness' causes the captain to bring on James Hildreth at the Old Pavilion as Chris Hunkin (remember him) and a Mr Turner (not THE Turner) push the score towards 130. With 5 overs to go up comes the 150 as the Cornish blokes take the partnership to 59 and the black clouds start to congregate around the boundary - Phil looks a little pessimistic about the afternoon.

Trego returns at the CA for the last few overs - AC is off the pitch. A spectator pops in with the news that Somerset have bowled 21 extras during the innings - there were 4 byes that I know of and a few wides. Both these batsmen have made a game of it and they clock up two well deserved half tons as the last over starts with 170 up. Hunkin goes first ball but that is it and they close on 176 for 7.

Of we go, Matt Wood and John Francis face the job of getting 177. In comes the first ball, a slow looping delivery - too slow for the captain who is comprehensively bowled by his first delivery....whoops. Bagpuss suggests that this bodes well for the season. But it doesn't work for Hildreth who goes at 7 - clean bowled. At this point in time John Francis has yet to face a ball. Wes Durston arrives at the crease, number 4 on the team sheet with less than 12 balls gone. 7 for 2.

But the 50 comes up off a long hop in the 14th as Wes and JF settle in despite the best efforts of a guy called Caddy and the ever present Hunkin (wonder if he'll be playing for our seconds again this year).  The rate is soon down below 3 an over as we get stuck into the second string of the Cornish bowling.  They do do one thing right though - line and length!!

At 97 Wes goes past 50 to give the selectors a bit more of a headache ahead of next Tuesday's first game at Bristol.  Just after the 100 comes up he is caught and bowled by an excellent effort for 55 and it is left to Frankie and Carl Gazzard to see the to it's conclusion.  As JF passes 50 they start to accelerate and we've gone past 150 with 20 overs to go.  It's all over 24 balls later as we cruise past a score at least 50 short, if not more.

What did we learn?  Well  not a lot from our batting front end.  The number three spot is still up for grabs.  Wes Durston looks in fine fettle with the bat and the bowlers took some wickets.  Gareth Andrew was the man with the stumps with a fair 3 for 41 and KP weighed in with 1 off his 7 overs.  Both Willoughby (1 for 26 off 10 with 5 maidens) who took a bit of tap at the end to spoil good figures and Caddick (1 for 19 off 10) looked up for it and that will be our new ball partnership I would imagine next week.  Peter Trego went for 22 off his 8 but was wicketless.  Durston had 3 and Hildreth (a one day change bowler perhaps in the Mike Burns vein) had a couple.

Banger was here and took time out to come and say hello to Tractor - a fact that we will possibly hear about again before the season is out.  George Burns was also about the place looking well and there were a few here to have a look at the new batch.  The rumours are that Cameron White is in the country and may be about on Saturday against the Somerset Premier League Allstars.  If I get there I'll let you know.  Early days but we didn't disgrace ourselves and did the job one would expect of us.  Much much more to come I hope

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