Ashburton emerge as C West promotion favourites after defeating Cornwood 2nd XI in top-of-the-table showdown | 'We still have one last job to do and we look forward to finishing positively' – skipper Lloyd White
ASHBURTON have got one foot in next season’s Tolchards DCL B Division after defeating promotion rivals Cornwood 2nd XI by six-wickets.
Lloyd White’ men went into the game four points behind Cornwood at the top of the table. Conrwood had been top for 16 weeks despite Ashes gaining ground on the back of a nine-game winning run.
Topping the table is the only thing that matters in a division with one promotion place. Ashburton are the new leaders and their 11-point lead makes the favourites to go up.
Cornwood need to beat third-placed Teignmouth & Shaldon, and hope Ashburton lose to Ipplepen 2nd XI in the final round of matches, to avoid being also rans again. They have finished third twice and runners-up once in the previous five seasons.
If Ashburton are promoted they will be back in the B Division for the first time since 1998. A far as skipper White is concerned they are not there yet.
“We still have one last job to do and we look forward to finishing positively,” said White.
All Cornwood can do know is hope for the best.
“Not over till it's over but now it's out of our hands and we need a favour,” said Cornwood skipper Dart. “We'll look to end the season with a win and see what happens?”
Cornwood found the new-ball bowling of Charlie Towers (0-19 off 9) hard to get away and lost wickets at the other end to Jack Warren (4-43).
Bits and pieces from Harry Woolway (27), Sam Griffiths (22) and Will Sharp (29) were as good as it got for Cornwood in a running total of 110 for seven.
Matt Churchill (2-28) and Steve Edmonds (3-19) kept the lower order batters under lock and key in an eventual tally of 142 all out.
Ashburton’s reply was an altogether different affair. Only skipper Lloyd White missed out during a 27-over dash to victory.
Edmonds opened with 63, George Yabsley added 28 and the not-outers were Churchill (17) and Nick Martin (19).
Reflecting on the game, White said: “A really comprehensive win, and probably our most clinical during my ten years at the club, and it came at the best possible time.
“To bowl-out Cornwood for 140, when 270-280 was probably par, was an unbelievable effort.
“Jack Warren and Charlie Towers set the tone for their entire innings; Edmonds and Churchill were superb in the middle.
“Steve (Edmonds) then anchored the chase with another a superb knock – and we had partnerships all the way through.”
Dart said: “We battled hard to get something on the board, but then didn't get the cricket luck we needed to defend a low total.
“A few early wickets could have changed things. But that's cricket, and we were second best on the day.
“I have got a lot of respect for Ashburton; they are a good side and have been on some run of results over the last nine weeks.”
