Cricket- County Division Five (East)

Roche v Saltash

Saltash had a day they will probably want to forget as they were out-played in all departments by a very strong Roche side. Little went right for Saltash as opening bowler Paul Marshall was reduced to bowling off-spin due to a leg injury and Ron Skinner injured his thumb while fielding and was unable to bat in a line-up that was already missing opening bat Sean Gale and regular wicket keeper Phil Wilkinson.

Saltash's other pace bowler Nick Carpenter struggled to get his line right against the succession of left-handers and proved expensive while even the usual accurate Ross Braund and Richard Durndell took some stick from the attack-minded Roche batsmen. Cornwall Over-50's player Tim Redman made an elegant 50 while Mark, Neil and Al Trudgeon all made good scored in rapid time to ensure a big total of 271-6.

Needing a positive start, Saltash sent powerful stroke-player Paul Marshall in as an opener but he edged the first delivery of the innings to keeper Redman off the pacy O' Brien. Saltash's other big gun Ian Stevenson was given no width to display his powerful hitting and Paul Johns, who topped the bowling averages in county two the season before last, claimed his wicket with a clever piece of bowling and then quickly claimed Mike Martin, caught at slip.

Carpenter soon followed, bowled by Roche's other Cornwall Over-50's player Roy Strout, and any chance of Saltash challenging the Roche total was realistically gone. Meanwhile, at the other end, Richard Durndell was going about business as usual, accumulating runs with a mixture of risky cuts and drives and he passed 50 for the fifth time in seven innings.

Saltash skipper Ross Braund also batted with determination and the pair at least ensured Saltash secured some batting points. Durndell eventually top-edged spinner Dave Trudgeon to Roy Strout to maintain his season's batting average of over 70 and Braund went on to complete his highest score of the season as Roche ran out convincing winners to leapfrog over Saltash into the second promotion spot.

Scores - Roche 270-6 (T Redman 53; AL Trudgeon 62; M Trudgeon 34; N Trudgeon 64; Extras 34; Bowling - R Braund 2-52; R Durndell 1-69; P Marshall 2-52). Saltash 157-7 (R Durndell 76; R Braund 40; Extras 22; Bowling - P Johns 2-32; N Trudgeon 1-21; C O' Brien 1-27; D Rushton 1-7; R Strout 1-20; D Trudgeon 1-35).

Roche (18 pts) bt Saltash (6) by 113 runs.