Tail enders see Cornwood home at Heathcote

RICHARDSON AND BAKER KEEP TEAM ON TOP OF THE TABLE AFTER THEIR NAIL-BITING SUCCESS

PREMIER DIVISION

TAIL-end Charlies James Richardson and Lee Baker saw Cornwood to a dramatic one-wicket win over Heathcoat that keeps them top of the Premier Division table for another week.

Heathcoat were all out for 246 in the 43rd of their 50 overs - Kumar Kusharga top scoring on 128 - and at 191 for one in reply Cornwood were on course for their third Premier win of the season.

Opener Jay Bista was on 89 not out at the time and it had been 134 runs since Heathcoat's Joe Hancock (3-52) had taken a wicket. Then it all went pear shaped in a hurry! Ben Beamont got out for 73 - that was the end of the 134-run stand with Bista for the second wicket then Cornwood lost five wickets getting from 223 for two to 240 for seven. Bista (108) was one of the casualties as Jamie Drew (4-56) and Tom Hatton (2-37) mowed down batter after batter.

Seven to win with two wickets left is a different game and both sides knew it! Richardson and Baker came together with seven balls left in the match and to needed to win after Tom Hatton spun out Josh Coker.

Last man Baker survived the final delivery from Hatton and two balls later Richardson plonked Jamie Drew over the ropes for six to win it with four balls un-bowled.

Elliott Staddon, the Cornwood captain, said the chase should not have been such hard work.

"We dominated the run chase, but a middle-order collapse left it to the guys at the bottom to get it over the line," said Staddon.

Staddon said some of the credit for the win should go to the bowling crew for getting the brake on Heathcoat's batters.

"I was delighted to keep Heathcoat below 250 as, at one point, it looked like they may get another 50-75 more runs than that," said Staddon.

"Ultimately it was another win, from which we can take some great positives and more to work on ahead of a tough game against Sidmouth (3rd) this Saturday.