DEVON Lions cruised to an 80-run win over the Cornish Choughs at Falmouth in a two-day declaration game played as a stepping stone towards three-day cricket.
League games at the top level in Devon are entirely 50-over win-lose cricket, which is totally different to the three-day format in the Durant Cricket National Counties Championship Devon play in.
Some of the Lions will have played declaration cricket in Devon age-group sides, but for late developers the concept of bowling-out a side, or timing a declaration to leave enough time to win bowling last, is an alien concept.
The Lions bowled Cornwall out twice at Falmouth – the second time in a race against the clock before time ran out. They did it with around half an hour to spare.
Jonty Walliker, who captained the Lions, said an added complication was interruptions for bad weather, which affected his calculations.
“I was delighted to get an outright win in a rain-affected two-day game,” said Walliker.
“With the exception of one hour on the first morning, we dominated the entirety of the game.”
Walliker was rewarded for winning the toss and choosing to bat, with a first-innings total of 307 for seven declared.
There were runs in the top half of the order for Ben Privett (34) and Ben Beaumont (64) before a mini-slump from 94 for three to 121 for six.
Enter Seb Ansley, who whacked 84 off just 54 deliveries during a stand of 130 with Sammy Broomhead.
Broomhead carried on to reach 66 not out in an unbroken stand of 56 with skipper Walliker (30no).
“Seb Ansley partnership with Sammy Broomhead ensured Cornwall spent the next day and a half chasing the game,” said Walliker.
Cornwall were bowled out for 133 first time around with Devon’s spin bowlers doing most of the damage. There were three wickets each for Josh Farley (3-17) and Harry Baxendale (3-33) and two more for Jack Ford (2-21). Only Mike Harding (41) and Charlie Kent (44) offered much resistance.
Devon had a 174-run lead in the book going into their second innings and added another 79 for the loss of six wickets after Walliker had done his bowling equations.
Cornwall had around 61 overs batting time to make 254 to win – and Devon had the same time frame to bowl them out.
Cornwall were always up against it after dipping to 57 for five in reply and a stand of 74 between Jamie Goldsworthy (44) and Steve Jenkin (46) only delayed the inevitable.
Man of the match Ansley concluded the game by having Piran Kent caught behind to dismiss Cornwall for 173.
Ansley had four wickets in the second innings as well as one on the first day, a run-out and a couple of catches. No wonder Walliker said: “Seb looked a class above in all three aspects of the game.”
Ansley (4-38) was backed-up by Walliker (2-15) when the ball was new and wickets tumbled. Farley, Ford and Jack Moore all took wickets down the order.
