ST JUST skipper Gareth May is refusing to get carried away despite earning a crucial two-run victory at Callington on Saturday in the ECB Cornwall Premier League.
The Cape Road outfit were given a going over by Cornwall’s Ben Ellis whose 6-23 single-handedly reduced the visitors to 48-6 despite Neil Curnow’s 18.
But although they only managed to reach 100 all out thanks to 21 from Sri Lankan Chamikara Edirisinghe, 13 from Logan Curnow and a 17-run stand between the last wicket pairing of Ben Stevens (4no) and Joe Clifton-Griffith (8), that proved enough on a tricky pitch at Moores Park.
Callington slipped to 4-2 in reply, but having reached 46-2 with former county star Graham Wagg racing along to 28, St Just launched a remarkable comeback aided by two teenagers in Ellis May and Logan Curnow.
Wagg went first when he clipped May to Stevens at mid-wicket and after Curnow (2-20 off 4) had both Max Tryfonos and Xavie Clarke caught behind by Rhys Brownfield, May soon knocked over Aidan Libby and Rowen Taplin to make it a scarcely believable 59-7.
Callington then looked to be on course once more as Ben Allsop made 17 from just 11, but May (5-19 off 6) continued the onslaught by having Allsop caught and bowled before dismissing director of cricket Joe White for two (87-9).
Ellis and the injured Mohammed Danyaal edged the score along, but with just three required, Ellis was caught at mid-off by Justin Stephens off his son Lewis’ fifth ball to spark wild celebrations from the West Cornwall outfit.
May admitted their was plenty to work on but praised the spirit shown.
He told the Voice: “Look, we’re really happy with the result, but for sure our performance can improve.
“It was a tough deck to bat on so even getting 100 we thought we still had a chance, and what this team does do is fight for each other right to the end.
“To highlight, eight of the Callington wickets were taken by three under 17s which bodes well for the future.”
Those 17 points plus defeats for Werrington, Truro and Grampound Road means the eight-time champions are up to sixth and have a 13-point buffer over bottom side Grampound Road before Saturday’s home date with mid-table St Austell (12pm).
May concluded: “On to this week and we know it’ll be a tough one against St Austell, but we beat them earlier in the season and having beat them last year, we’re hoping for a positive outcome.”
St Just make just one change from last weekend as talented youngster George Blaken comes in for player/coach Justin Stephens.
ST JUST v St Austell: Gareth May (capt), Ellis May, Rhys Brownfield (wkt), Neil Curnow, Phil Nicholas, Chamikara Edirisinghe, Lewis Stephens, Logan Curnow, Ben Stevens, George Blaken, Joe Clifton-Griffith.
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