Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League — Saturday, May 22

Division Two East

Menheniot-Looe (110 all out)

Bude (111-0)

BUDE are up to second in Division Two East after thrashing Menheniot-Looe by ten wickets at Fourgates.

After poor weather all week, Bude were told that the game wouldn’t be able to start until 3pm if they wanted to travel, but were left glad they did.

It was agreed to play a 35-over game and Bude skipper Warren Rumble unsurprisingly chose to field on a wet pitch.

Menheniot openers Luke Ripley and Hugh Rogers looked to pounce on anything pitched up, with both hitting early sixes.

Yet they were soon dismissed as Ripley (13) had his off stump knocked back by Shaun Whitefield, and Rogers (14) was caught at point by James Findlay trying to drive Sam Hockin.

After Hockin went for 30 off his five overs, Rumble brought on the medium pace of Jack Horwell and it proved a masterstroke as he bowled Matt Perrett in his first over.

Whitefield, enjoying a superb start to the season, bowled his nine overs straight through, and by the time he had finished had taken 4-27, leaving Menheniot Looe staring down the barrel at 58-6.

Number eight Ross Ripley then batted the rest of the innings for an unbeaten 30, but Menheniot were all out for just 111 with 19 balls unused.

Horwell ended with 3-19 off seven overs, while off-spinner Matt Williams took 2-15 from 6.5.

Menheniot required early wickets to have any chance, but on a small ground, openers Rumble and Matt Hookway knew they could take their time and hit away the bad balls.

Giving just once chance in the 70s, they eased home with 40 balls to spare, with Rumble’s 67 compromising 11 fours and two sixes, and Hookway’s 31 with three boundaries.

Bude are now just two points behind leaders Grampound Road seconds ahead of Saturday’s home clash with promotion-hopefuls Roche, who beat Tideford by 75 runs at the weekend.

Rumble thought it was another clinical display.

He said: “It was another great performance, the bowlers did exactly what I asked. I thought Jack (Horwell) would be perfect in those conditions, and we were able to keep him on for seven overs, while Shaun was faultless again for his 4-27, and Matt Williams was as steady as ever.

“Then when we chased, we decided to take our time and it worked perfectly.”

Rumble expects a tough test against Roche, but has fond memories of the clay country club.

He added: “When we last played them in 2019 we beat them down at their place in a thriller when Matt Williams and Andrew De Rosa spun through them after they got off to a great start chasing. But I’m expecting a really tight game as they’re a good side, but we’ve won four in a row now meaning we’re confident and looking forward to it.

“We’ve only got to make one change as Wayne Adams is away, but Chris Parkes is down and slots straight in.”