Cornwall Cricket League Division Four East - Saturday, July 13

LAUNCESTON Seconds produced a remarkable display with the ball to beat promotion-hopefuls St Stephen by three runs at Lawhitton.

Plenty of rain in the lead up to the game meant batting was never going to be easy, and the hosts were thankful for a superb knock from Mark Thomas.

The former Cornwall and Truro batsman faced the first ball of the innings and was still there at the end as wickets fell throughout, making 73 from 126 balls with 12 fours.

Opener Toby Theobald made 16 and Danny Sloman a quickfire 15 in the middle order, but a total of 133-8 was always going to be tough to defend.

Stand-in skipper Kevin Worth opened the bowling with spinners Brett Grosvenor and Ethan Green and it paid off handsomely as wickets fell from the get go.

They took 1-20 and 2-29 respectively before the seam of James Law (2-33) and Tommy Davey (3-28) were introduced, Davey seeing all three wickets coming via stumpings from Toby Theobald. 

Wickets continued to fall, and despite some nerves towards the end, they held on for a fine victory as St Stephen could only reach 130-8.

St Minver failed to back up their victory over Launceston as Buckland Monachorum ran out 45-run winners at the Lady Seaton Sportsfield.

In-form openers Gary Elkington and Jim Maunder (51) added 83 to put St Minver on the back foot, before Charlie Elkington (47no) and Kevin Osborne (26) helped get the score up to 210-6.

Left-arm spinner Nigel Hocking took 2-39 from his ten overs.

The reply was a respectable effort, but from 62-5 it was always going to be tough.

Number three Archie Edwards made 52 and there were twenties from Neil Kent (24) and Fred Cartwright (22), but the poor start cost them dear.