Cricket- County Division Six
Tintagel II v Menheniot II
Menheniot sought revenge on Tintagel for their 14-run defeat a fortnight ago and were duly rewarded with a 26-run victory.
Tintagel's skipper won the toss and asked Menheniot to take first knock, something which they probably regretted because, at the half-way stage, both of Menheniot's opening pair of Bill McLoughlin and Dave Wiltshire were unbeaten on 72-0. They were still there at the 40 overs mark, with 160 on the board with no wickets down. Initially, it was McLoughlin, who was striking the ball hard to the boundary but in the latter stages, Wiltshire took over and smashed the ball to all points of the fence.
The opening partnership, which must be a record for Menheniot, was finally broken when McLoughlin was caught on the wide long on boundary for 59. Acting on his skipper's orders, Wiltshire played very correct and sensibly, batting out the overs to record a magnificent 105 not out including 12 fours, two sixes and a five. James Handley joined him at no. 3, putting bat to ball and hitting three sixes in a cameo innings of 26 from eight scoring shots. Menheniot's innings finally closed on 224-3.
Tintagel started their innings slowly and cautiously against the youthful opening attack of Adrian 'Boy' Walton and Mike 'Grub' Harrison. They managed to contain the home batsmen to 26 off eight overs before Pearse decided to drive Walton hard and low into the visiting skipper's hands at mid-off. Walton claimed a second scalp by bowling the very dangerous Knight off his bat, pad and foot to leave the home side on 43-2. It took a partnership of 84 between the dogged opening batsmen, Reynolds and a more adventurous Gordon before the latter was out for 54. Due to the accurate bowling of Keith Goldsmith and latterly Mike Strand, they contained Tintagel, who were getting further behind in the run rate.
After 48 overs, Tintagel were 198-8, leaving Menheniot winners by 26 runs. Goldsmith finished with 3-47 off his 16 overs, Strand had figures of 2-37 whilst Walton recorded 2-44. Had it not been for 26 wides and four no balls, which in effect gave Tintagel 30 extra runs and, equally important, five extra overs, the end result would have been much more definite but full marks to Menheniot's youthful team and their not-so-young batsmen, who stuck to their task.
Scores - Menheniot 224-3 (D Wiltshire 105 n.o.; W McLoughlin 59; J Handley 26). Tintagel 198-8 (G Reynolds 50; R Gordon 54; A Walton 2-44; K Goldsmith 3-47; M Strand 2-37).
Menheniot (19 pts) beat Tintagel (five) by 26 runs.