Devon Cricket Board - Are Cornwood embarking on 'Great Escape'?

Are Cornwood embarking on 'Great Escape'?

THE great escape could yet become a reality for Cornwood after they beat defending champions Exmouth by 32 run to move off the bottom of the Premier Division.

Cornwood still have work to do to get out of the second drop spot, but going past Sandford was a first step.

There remains a 12-point gap between Cornwood and Torquay, the next team they have to get ahead of, but chairman of selectors Nick Goodliffe believes the Oak Park outfit has a chance.

“We have got a bit of momentum going and a belief we can do it,” said Goodliffe.

“No one is getting over-excited about one win and to borrow a well-used cliché it is one game at a time for us.

“There is a lot left for us to play for.”

Jackson Thompson top scored for Cornwood with 97 in their total of 259 for seven.

An opening stand of 77 with Ben Warren (37) pointed Cornwood in the right direction, then Mark Horwell (39) helped Thompson add another 92 for the second wicket.

Thompson had a ton in sight when he departed having hit 14 fours and two sixes in a run-a-ball 97.

In the 14 overs left there was time for Aaron Richards (16) and Byron Langley (31) to add 48 in a hurry for the sixth wicket.

The pair were together for just six overs, but their stand proved crucial in the context of the game.

Former Devon captain Bob Dawson (3-61) took some treatment near the end when Richards and Langley were getting on with it.

Thompson, who was captain for the day in the absence of Jason Hall, then found a way to keep a lid on Exmouth’s highly rated battling line up.

Opener Sandy Allen’s quickfire 46 hinted at the damage Exmouth could do, but runs were a problem from the other end where Thompson (4-31) was tying them down.

When Seb Benton was seventh out at 135 for a long 32 off 64 balls, Exmouth looked out of it. They were nothing of the sort.

Gary Chappell (47) and Jamie Tapper (34) set about a partnership that added 72 fore the eighth wicket.

Cornwood were relieved to see the back of Tapper – caught Richards, bowled Staddon (2-41) – but Chappell hung around until the end when he was last man out on 227.

There were lots of contributions to Cornwood’s cause, but Thompson’s stood out.

“Jackson was pivotal to everything we did, as a player and with some fine captaincy,” said Goodliffe.

“We know he has loads of talent and has had a frustrating season at times so it was nice to see him come to fruition.”

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