PREMIER DIVISION
Callington v Paul
THE less said about some games the better, and it was one of those matches for Callington as their dismal start to a return to Premier Division cricket went on.
Nobody watching the game could remember Callington making a worse start to an innings, and at just 1.53 pm they were reduced to an outrageous two for five, with one of their two runs being a wide.
The top three batsmen had all made ducks, and the only run off the bat had come from Jamie Hatch, although he did not add any more to his total.
Callington's new covers had ensured that the track was dry and reasonably hard, so the traditional excuse of blaming the wicket was not really an option.
The Paul pace partnership of Justin Stephens and Kelvin Snell struck early, as bats were waved off stump, resulting in three caught-behinds for wicketkeeper Caz James, Stephens taking a return catch to dismiss Dan Davis and Hatch and White losing their woodwork.
Only Luke Davis, coming in at four, could offer any resistance and he made an assured 21, staying at the crease for 51 minutes, but nobody could offer him support.
By 3.10 pm the innings was all over with Callington all out for 44. Snell will do well to better his figures of five for 11, as will Stephens with his three for seven. Richard Hall, another seamer, also weighed in with two for seven.
Paul took 19.2 overs to reach their tiny target although, with no total to defend, Callington proved that they are not a bad bowling side, taking three Paul wickets in the process. Jim Shorten bowled four overs for five runs, and Chris Bennett the same number of overs for a run less. Spinner James Boundy took the wickets of Andy Snell (lbw) and Ryan Edwards to a sharp catch from wicketkeeper Joe White.
Dan Davis snapped up a catch low down off Aiden Libby to dismiss Stephens, but the Paul batsmen did not make any more mistakes, as they cruised home.