Skeemer stars in excellent win for Cornwood

STADDON HAILS ALL-ROUNDER'S ROLE IN THEIR WIN OVER EXETER

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

PREMIER DIVISION MATT

Skeemer was Cornwood's star man with bat and ball in a fivewicket win over Exeter.

Skeemer was among the wickets with a three-for-17 haul - all in the top five from 10 overs as Exeter were bowled out for 158.

And Skeemer was among the wickets with 67 not out -seven fours, four sixes as the Wood chased to win inside 29 overs.

Elliott Staddon, the Cornwood captain, said Skeemer's role could not be downplayed.

"Matt Skeemer was the difference maker with bat and ball and saw us over the line on the chase," said Staddon.

Exeter laboured to 51 for four under pressure from Skeemer and Ben Privett (3-24) before Sam Read (59) got on top of the Cornwood bowling.

Support from Oli Gribble (16) helped Exeter to a respectable total.

Staddon (2-8) finally removed Read after he had been involved in stands that added 92 to the running total.

Cornwood lost opener Max Finzel cheaply, and Ben Beamont for nothing at all, but a typically brisk 25 from Privett got the target coming down.

Wickets for Joe Gore (3-41) slowed the Wood at times, but once Skeemer got going there was only going to be one outcome.

Skeemer hit the first ball he faced for four and continued a better than run-a-ball pace until the game was won. A four off Gore finished the job.

Cornwood stay third in the table behind Sandford and Bradninch & Kingsbridge.

Staddon said a pleasing factor of the win was the number of contributors to it.

"Restricting Exeter to 158 after losing the toss was great - and our bowlers made life difficult for them up top," said Staddon.

"It was nice to see our top players start to really get going."

PLYMPTON won for the first time in this season's Tolchards DCL Premier Division after grinding out a two-wicket win over visiting Exmouth.