Harberton v Cockington – 23^rd May 2010

· Played at Cockington

· Toss won by Harberton

· Harberton 129 for 10 wickets in 36.3 overs

· Cockington 90 for 10 wickets in28.1 overs.

· Harberton won by 39 runs.

Playing cricket at Cockington Country Park on a warm bright Summer’s day exemplifies all that is good about England. With the backdrop of the manor house surrounded by a avenues of colourful trees and shrubs, holiday makers rambling through the grounds and horse drawn carriages transporting people along the boundary, while white flannelled cricketers enjoy the battle of bat against ball – what more can one ask for.

And so to the cricket!

On a difficult wicket where both pace and bounce was variable, Harberton won the toss and elected to bat. After recent batting collapses, Jack Buckner and Ray opened tentatively against the wily bowling of King (1 for 20) and Allen (1for 13). Progress was painfully slow as tight bowling was backed up by focused fielding. After 8 overs only 12 runs had been scored when Buckner (11) exploded into action taking 9 runs off King’s 5^th over. However, this was short lived as both opening batsmen were dismissed in the next two overs. With Tobias falling soon after for 10, Harberton were in serious trouble at 45 for 3.

Elliot Buckner has the appearance of a man in a hurry. A good eye and quick reflexes and tremendous power makes him a dangerous adversary with the bat. Some of his stroke play and shot selection is not pretty but can be very effective. He decided that with the wicket so difficult he would attack rather than wait for the killer ball to trap him. With an unusually subdued Pike at the other end, the score began to accelerate as Carlino (0 for 32) and Jonathan Colegate (1 for 33) suffered at the hands of Buckner. When Pike (15) was bowled by Jonathan Colegate with the score at 91 in the 23^rd over, a big score looked on the cards. Yet again a Harberton collapse followed as Breed (2 for 11) and Scott Colegate (2for 9) ripped through the tail. Harberton reached 129 thanks to the excellent Elliot Buckner whose 59 included 9 fours and a mighty six. Cockington looked favourites for the win at tea.

Goldsmith opened the bowling after tea. His first ball was smashed for 6, his second for a single and third for a four as Watt and Nicholls defied all the rules dictating that openers should look at the bowling and play themselves in. Goldsmith was angry, how dare the batsmen treat his bowling with such contempt. An inswinging low full toss took out the middle stump to remove Nicholls on the last ball of the first over – Cockington 11 for 1. The batting carnage continued as Shephard and Goldsmith both suffered at the hands of the Cockington batsmen who seemed intent on forcing an early finish. After just 4 overs the score had raced to 34 for 1 wicket.

Captain Jack Buckner and Ben Pike were brought into the attack and with Buckner removing Watt for 23 in his first over, the mood of the match changed as Cockington decided to put up the shutters and rebuild their innings. Suddenly the ball began to fizz and turn as the Harberton attack bowled magnificently. The Harberton fielders all chased superbly to make scoring difficult. Inevitibly wickets began to fall with Pike (3 for 11) and Jack Buckner (2 for 20) turned the screw. When the dangerous Scott Colegate was trapped lbw by Pike for 16 the game was up. Oakey (3 for 11) and young Hugo Whitlock (1 for 8) who at the age of 13 looked a real find for the future, polished off the tail as Cockington were dismissed for 90. Another game full of twists and turns played in tremendous spirit by two committed teams!