Darren Vann played some splendid shots
Those who think that Seniors’ cricket is just about ageing cricketers seeking to recapture the glories of yesteryear should have been present at Grampound Road, near Truro, in midweek when Hampshire tied 177 runs each with old adversaries Cornwall in their third ECB 50-plus Championship match.
It was a contest in the best traditions of the game (Cornish pasties and jam scones were on the tea table) which ebbed and flowed until the very last ball severely testing the blood pressure levels of all participants. Is there another sport which can provide such a mix of emotions?
After a long hike to the West Country, Cornwall thought to test the fitness of the Hampshire athletes inviting the Seniors to take the field. This soon backfired as skipper and one time England 50s international Nick Gargaro (left) demolished the Cornwall top order as they crumbled to 22-4 after a mere 8 overs, prolific former Minor Counties batsman Sean Hooper among his victims.
Bowling left-arm gun barrel straight, he bowled two victims, trapped another lbw with the other falling to a stunning one handed grab by Stu Shapland in the covers, a catch that would have graced any game. At this stage his analysis read (4-2-9-4) with the West Countrymen teetering on the edge of a potential heavy defeat.
Hampshire reckoned without the obstinate resistance of Penzance town councillor and opener Jim McKenna (2,000-plus runs in 50s county cricket) and captain Paul Clements However. Slowly but surely, in the best Cornish spirit of Trelawny, they patiently rebuilt the innings batting sensibly, scoring runs whilst taking few risks. Various bowling changes failed to dislodge the pair as they batted Cornwall back into the game with a century partnership. It needed the introduction of South African Brenden Fourie to swing matters back in favour of the Seniors: should he have been introduced earlier, the Poldark corner chanted ... ?
Juggling catch
When he bowled Clements (38) the fifth wicket had yielded 125 precious runs. McKenna (95) was next to go to a juggling catch by Harsham just short of what would have been a merited fourth vet’s ton. At least he passed 2,000 runs for Cornwall 50s on the way
Seventh choice (he opened the bowling for Border in his South African provincial days) Fourie (5-0-20-5) continued to make inroads into the Cornwall order as a clatter of wickets left the hosts rocking on 159-9. A final wicket for Gargaro (8.4-2-25-5) saw him also complete a five-wicket haul. The jugs were on the bar....
It was a contest in the best traditions of the game (Cornish pasties and jam scones were on the tea table) which ebbed and flowed until the very last ball severely testing the blood pressure levels of all participants. Is there another sport which can provide such a mix of emotions?
After a long hike to the West Country, Cornwall thought to test the fitness of the Hampshire athletes inviting the Seniors to take the field. This soon backfired as skipper and one time England 50s international Nick Gargaro (left) demolished the Cornwall top order as they crumbled to 22-4 after a mere 8 overs, prolific former Minor Counties batsman Sean Hooper among his victims.
Bowling left-arm gun barrel straight, he bowled two victims, trapped another lbw with the other falling to a stunning one handed grab by Stu Shapland in the covers, a catch that would have graced any game. At this stage his analysis read (4-2-9-4) with the West Countrymen teetering on the edge of a potential heavy defeat.
Hampshire reckoned without the obstinate resistance of Penzance town councillor and opener Jim McKenna (2,000-plus runs in 50s county cricket) and captain Paul Clements However. Slowly but surely, in the best Cornish spirit of Trelawny, they patiently rebuilt the innings batting sensibly, scoring runs whilst taking few risks. Various bowling changes failed to dislodge the pair as they batted Cornwall back into the game with a century partnership. It needed the introduction of South African Brenden Fourie to swing matters back in favour of the Seniors: should he have been introduced earlier, the Poldark corner chanted ... ?
Juggling catch
When he bowled Clements (38) the fifth wicket had yielded 125 precious runs. McKenna (95) was next to go to a juggling catch by Harsham just short of what would have been a merited fourth vet’s ton. At least he passed 2,000 runs for Cornwall 50s on the way
Seventh choice (he opened the bowling for Border in his South African provincial days) Fourie (5-0-20-5) continued to make inroads into the Cornwall order as a clatter of wickets left the hosts rocking on 159-9. A final wicket for Gargaro (8.4-2-25-5) saw him also complete a five-wicket haul. The jugs were on the bar....
Almost Hampshire's downfall ... Bloated Hampshire openers Andy Parratt and Andy Worth struggled to impose themselves at the crease and were soon back for a double helping of pasties and scones.
Calmore’s Aussie Darren Vann at last showed his true potential with some glorious shots through the covers as he and Shapland advanced the total to 89 before the retired Flamingo captain, feeling the effects of a suspect hamstring and too many scones holed out. Eventually a tiring Vann (63) was caught at gully and was quickly followed by Thankachan as the Seniors’ reply spluttered to 117-5. Worse was to follow as the departure of his May’s Bounty team-mate Keith Harsham and Fourie left the Seniors faltering on 133-7.
Up stepped the experienced Neil Taylor who with Zane D’Monte (16) clawed the target down to six runs to win before the Bramshaw prospect was castled by Clements as he attempted to hit him out of the ground and into Truro. As Keith Harris joined the fray, so four runs were required from the final over.
It began with a single to Taylor. Then Harris hit the economical Johnson to deep mid-wicket for two runs to level the scores. Cricketing brains went out of the window as the pair endeavoured to run a third (always a notable achievement in Seniors’ cricket) to win the match. End product, Harris was run out leaving Taylor to score a single off the remaining four balls.
Next ball (the third of the over and with Hampshire 177-9 and needing one more run) Johnson bent his back. The ball reared up flicking Taylor’s glove and the Cornish gloveman Anstey took a very sharp catch. The sporting Taylor (21) ‘walked’ and a memorable contest ended in a tie …
Calmore’s Aussie Darren Vann at last showed his true potential with some glorious shots through the covers as he and Shapland advanced the total to 89 before the retired Flamingo captain, feeling the effects of a suspect hamstring and too many scones holed out. Eventually a tiring Vann (63) was caught at gully and was quickly followed by Thankachan as the Seniors’ reply spluttered to 117-5. Worse was to follow as the departure of his May’s Bounty team-mate Keith Harsham and Fourie left the Seniors faltering on 133-7.
Up stepped the experienced Neil Taylor who with Zane D’Monte (16) clawed the target down to six runs to win before the Bramshaw prospect was castled by Clements as he attempted to hit him out of the ground and into Truro. As Keith Harris joined the fray, so four runs were required from the final over.
It began with a single to Taylor. Then Harris hit the economical Johnson to deep mid-wicket for two runs to level the scores. Cricketing brains went out of the window as the pair endeavoured to run a third (always a notable achievement in Seniors’ cricket) to win the match. End product, Harris was run out leaving Taylor to score a single off the remaining four balls.
Next ball (the third of the over and with Hampshire 177-9 and needing one more run) Johnson bent his back. The ball reared up flicking Taylor’s glove and the Cornish gloveman Anstey took a very sharp catch. The sporting Taylor (21) ‘walked’ and a memorable contest ended in a tie …
