Cricket- County Division Four

Looe v St Stephens

St Stephens made very good use of batting first on another excellent Killigarth wicket. John Sweet played the pivotal role, his 56 containing five fours and two sixes. He enjoyed productive partnerships with Ben Parkinson (37) and Mark Trudgeon (29). After Sweets' good innings, N Hart, with an aggressive 38 not out (six fours and a six), J Hooper with 20 and D Best (11 not out) hoisted the visitors total to a formidable 220-7. Looe used six bowlers on a day when no-one fired on all cylinders, and they shared the wickets. Jim Shepley was the most successful with 2-27.

Looe's reply featured another brilliant innings from Peter Nance who hit sixteen fours in an undefeated and chanceless century. With brother Jonathan, Peter shared in an opening stand of 104, Jonathan's superb 41 punctuated with some fine drives. This stand having set Looe well on the way, two quick wickets brought Jim Shepley to the crease and he struck a rapid 39 (five fours and a six) to take Looe within sight of victory. John Shepley then had his first outing of the season as, fittingly, Peter Nance hit the winning boundary which also brought him his century. St Stephens bowlers stuck to their task, with D Best, N Hart and M Trudgeon taking one apiece and C New 2-54. This excellent game of cricket was played in a wonderfully sporting spirit, a credit to both sides.

Scores - St Stephens 220-7 (B Parkinson 37, J Sweet 56, M Trudgeon 29, P Julian 12, J Hooper 20, N Hart 38 no, D Best 11 n.o., S Farley 1-55; A Nicholas 1-23; M Pengelly 1-49; R Trethowan 1-31; J Nance 1-23; T Shepley 2-27). Looe 223-5 (P Nance 103 n.o., J Nance 41, J Shepley 39; D Best 15-0-66-1; N Hart 82-1-36-1; M Trudgeon 13-1-52-1; C New 10-0-54-2).

Looe 223-5 (18 pts) bt St Stephens (7) by 5 wkts.