Cornwall Over-50s reached the semi-final of the ECB 50+ competition with a convincing nine-run win over Hampshire, who themselves had reached the semi-final stage in the previous three seasons.

On a damp Sunday at Grampound Road Cornwall were put into bat and after losing Jon Nance to a fine catch at mid-wicket made good progress to reach 60 for 1 after 10 overs. The batting tempo then slowed as 12 runs came in seven overs – the prelude to a mini-collapse which saw four wickets tumble for 11 runs.

However, Andrew Jones and Paul Clements rebuilt the innings, adding 44 and, after Clement fell for 17, Steve Mitchell and Jones took the score to 184 before Jones went for 49.

Mitchell reached a maiden championship 50 and in partnership with Stuart Renshaw steered Cornwall to 230 for 7.

Cornwall struck early with Ian Bishop removing dangerous opener Dave Streather for 0 in the second over. Fellow opening bowler Dave Dunnett then took over blowing the top order away with a devastating spell of four for 12 in 19 balls which included a magnificent forward diving catch by Mitchell in the gully to leave Hampshire 37 for 5.

When McKenna produced an equally brilliant catch to remove Harsham from Mitchell’s first ball the visitors were 51 for 6.

It got worse for Hants when skipper Colin Day was superbly stumped by Jones off a leg side wide from Renshaw to make it 71 for 7. The tail wagged a bit before Dunnett returned to claim the final two wickets and finish with a championship best of 6-34 – and in so doing went past 50 championship wickets.

A record eight successive wins puts them Cornwall into the semi-finals for the first time on Sunday, August 23.