Tamar League A

Ordulph v Cornwood fourth XI

ORDULPH immediately found the going a touch warmer in the shape of a lively spell of bowling from Cornwood's Smith who was extracting some lively movement from the damp wicket.

The early loss of Wellard and Melhuish to Smith looked ominous for Ordulph with a large score now looking a remote possibility. With Credicott and recently promoted colt De Caux now at the helm, the ship was steadied and runs began to flow at a reasonable rate.

De Caux in particular batted a mature innings, watchful of the straight ball but punishing severely any bad balls with some fine boundaries. His premature demise came after a sharp piece of Cornwood fielding resulting in a run out, not before however he had posted a useful 32. With the arrival of Whitfield at the crease the Ordulph score started to race along with an imperious display of big hitting from the Australian. Whitfield stamped his authority with a quick 57. Assisted with useful contributions from partners Dhanjal (14) Mills (1), Ordulph looked like posting a large score.

Cornwood brought Matthews to the attack and he soon took the steam out of what was looking like a runaway Ordulph train. Whitfield was only the first of four Matthews scalps in a superb spell of tight slow bowling, using the slow wicket conditions to good effect. A nice bit of 'tail wagging' from Poppe (14) and Smith (13) took the Ordulph total along to a useful 187 before Matthews wrapped things up.

Cornwood took to the crease with the rain showers becoming more frequent.

Openers Matthews and Dibben set about the Ordulph attack putting 70 on the board in no time. Ordulph were rewarded for their perseverance with Matthews falling to Credicott, stumped by Wood, and Dibben having his leg stump uprooted by Mills.

A period of good tight bowling from Credicott and Whitfield took the wind out of Cornwood's sails. Cornwood wickets fell at regular intervals and the score moving at a snails pace. Whitfield with superb line and length bowling accounting for four wickets, with Tim Smith stepping up for the remaining three wickets.

Cornwood's innings came to an end 39 runs short of Ordulph.