ECB Cornwall Premier League (Saturday)

Werrington v Penzance

WERRINGTON gave title favourites Penzance an almighty scare before eventually going down to a 126-run defeat.

The West Cornwall outfit were wobbling at 174-8 before a brilliant partnership between former Ladycross favourite Tom Dinnis and Giles Lawrence propelled them to 250-9.

Werrington were going okay at 77-2 with Sam Hockin (44) and Thulina Dilshan (17) set, but their departures in quick succession started a slide that saw them dismissed for 124.

Following some rain in the week, Nick Lawson chose to field upon winning the toss, and although the visitors managed to get the ball to the fence on a regular basis, wickets kept coming after an opening stand of 42.

Usual tailender Andrew Libby, opening in the absence of Jack Paull, made ten before he aimed a drive off Sam Hockin which was superbly caught in front of first slip by a diving Lawson.

Penzance captain Ben Seabrook is one of the in-form batsmen in the country at the moment, but he went for just four, again Hockin and Lawson combining to take the catch.

Hockin (3-57) was bowling towards his best and when he had German international Dylan Blignaut edging behind to Lawson on the crease, they were cock-a-hoop.

At the other end it wasn’t a different story as the hard-hitting Christian Purchase scored all around the ground, and looked set for a hundred.

But he went for a run-a-ball 61 when he was bowled by Duke (1-32) looking to go over the top.

Werrington eventually introduced spinners Adam Hodgson and Ben Smeeth and they worked their way through the middle order.

Hodgson had South African Grant Stone caught behind by Lawson looking to late cut, before Dan Lello was lbw trying to sweep Smeeth, who later had young wicket-keeper Wilfred Bartlett stumped (155-7).

Wiltshire fast bowler Josh Croom showed his batting prowess as he and Dinnis added 19 before Croom was brilliantly caught by Mark Gribble at mid-wicket diving away to his left (174-8).

But with nine overs remaining Penzance still had ample time to get up and above 200, but Dinnis and Lawrence put their team in the ascendency.

Lawrence struck 12 off his first balls off Dilshan before a couple of quieter overs.

Lawrence though likes to attack and took a liking to Smeeth with Dinnis targeting Hodgson’s off-spin.

Lawrence eventually fell in the 49th over, bowled by Dan Barnard having made 34 from 26, but it was the last over bowled by Hodgson that made the real difference as 21 came off it, including two huge sixes by Dinnis who finished 34 not out.

Werrington started patiently against the pace of Croom and Dinnis with Hockin and Smeeth adding 29 from the first ten overs.

But the introduction of Lawrence’s off-spin proved crucial.

With his third ball, Smeeth looked to sweep and got a thick edge which was brilliantly taken by Purchase at slip.

Hodgson was in and out for six, edging a catch through off Lawrence, but Hockin and Dilshan kept going with the latter striking three early boundaries.

But the Sri Lankan’s unfortunate dismissal proved critical as he top-edged a Lawrence (3-26 off 8) half-tracker which was pouched.

Hockin struck six fours in his 44 before he was clean bowled by the pace of Croom (88-4) in the 25th over and from there the innings fell away in a hurry.

Croom hit Lyle on the helmet before bowling him next ball, and soon castled Ben Jenkin.

Mark Gribble made 20 at the other end, but with Dinnis (3-26 off 9.2) and Croom (4-35) in tandem it was tough work as they slipped to 124 all out in the 36th over.