OUNTY DIVISION ONE

Hayle v Callington

CALLINGTON kept up the pressure on Camborne with a hard-fought win at The Towans against an in-form Hayle side.

For the second week running, Jon Parsons was the team's backbone with a fine unbeaten 80 as Callington reached their target with four balls to spare.

On a bright sunny afternoon, Hayle had elected to bat, but the Davis brothers and Jim Shorten reduced them to 50 for three after 15 overs.

However, dangerman Kevin Jenkin was again in hard-hitting mode as he and Paul Lello added another 53 before Jenkin was bowled by Chris Bennett for 51, much to the relief of the first slip fielder who had dropped him just a few balls earlier.

Lello made 34, but he and captain Steve Pollard both fell leg before to Shorten, and Bennett was bowling superbly at the other end, accounting for Smitheram and Stuckey, the latter thanks to another stumping from Joe White.

Bennett bowled 12 economical overs, taking three for 26, and Dan Davis returned to take out the last batsmen to claim three for 28.

Shorten also took three wickets for the cost of 37 as Hayle were dismissed for 151.

Most spectators were expecting Callington to easily chase what was, on paper, a modest target... but it did not turn out like that.

Simon Beare, looking secure in the role of opener, and Parsons got Callington off to a good start, putting 67 on the board before Jenkin had Beare leg before for 29.

By now Pollard had changed to an all-spin attack and the bowlers were taking an upper hand, with runs hard to come by.

Dan Davis was disappointed to offer an easy chance to Mungles off Jenkin and brother Luke hung around for 37 balls, but found it difficult to pierce the field.

It soon became clear that Callington could not afford Parsons to get out, because while he was there, they were always favourite to win the match. Parsons did not let them down and stuck manfully to his task with 80 not out in 144 balls. Peter Tancock helped out with ten and it was left to Jamie Hatch to hit the winning run with just four balls remaining.

Jenkin bowled 12 excellent overs, taking two wickets for 24.