ECB CORNWALL PREMIER LEAGUE (SATURDAY)

St Austell 222-7 (50 overs), Penzance 219 (48)

ST AUSTELL underlined their title credentials as a dramatic late comeback gave them an opening day victory over champions Penzance at Wheal Eliza.

The Saints were struggling in both innings before they showed the type of grit and determination that could see them in the mix come August.

After new St Austell captain Alex Bone chose to bat, Tom Dinnis soon reduced the hosts to 44-3 including dismissing Sri Lankan debutant Thevindu Dickwella for a golden duck.

Surviving opener Connor Cooke stablised the innings with Bone before Cooke (33) and Mike Bone (1) departed in quick succession (97-5).

But a superb 100-run partnership between Bone and brother Gary Bone stabilised the innings.

Starting slowly, they took the score to 170-5 with five overs remaining.

They then stepped on the gas with 27 coming off the next two before Gary Bone was bowled by left-arm paceman Josh Croom for 58 off 67 balls, an innings than included four fours and two sixes.

Gary Bone.
St Austell's Gary Bone, now back in the ranks after 12 years in charge, drives through the covers as Penzance's new signing Nic Halstead-Cleak watches on. Picture: Paul Williams (Paul Williams)

Alex Bone continued on his merry way, but it was the final over bowled by Tommy Sturgess that proved decisive.

Twenty-one came of it as Bone finished 79 not out from 113 deliveries.

For Penzance, Dinnis was the pick with 3-41 from ten overs, while Croom (2-35) and player/coach Brad Wadlan (1-31) were both tidy.

Penzance would have fancied their chances at tea and got off to a flier as Christian Purchase and Jack Paull brought up the fifty partnership in just the eighth over.

But Bone brought on returning left-arm spinner Andrew Libby and the tide turned as he trapped Paull (20) lbw with his fourth delivery.

The 13th over had a huge bearing on the game as Ben Sleeman struck twice.

He bowled Purchase for 29 before having Brad Wadlan caught by Dan Jarman second ball.

But debutants Nic Halstead-Cleak and Charlie Sharland were enjoying themselves and took the score to 138-3 at the halfway stage.

With just 85 required the visitors were clear favourites but the Saints’ never-say-die attitude came to the fore.

Steve Raven bowled Sharland for 43 from just 42 balls before the huge wicket of Halstead-Cleak, run-out by Alex Bone, turned the tide.

It was soon 157-6 when Sturgess’ tough second debut saw him caught by Raven off Gary Bone for a single, but that seemed to all be for nothing when Croom and Grant Stone added 51.

At 208-6 with 15 required from the final 31 balls it seemed like a stroll, but back came the Saints again as Croom picked out Liam Watson off Mike Bone for 33 off the final ball of the 45th over.

Libby was brought on for the 46th and struck with his final ball to bowl Stone for 26.

Eleven were still required with two wickets in-hand as the large crowd gathered to see a thrilling finale.

Four singles came off the next over bowled by Sleeman before Adam Snowdon ended the game with the final two deliveries off the 48th as he bowled Jonny Ludlam for five before rearranging Charlie Hearn’s furniture with the next.

For St Austell it was a 20 points that will live long in the memory, while for Penzance who have ambitions to win the national competitions this term, it could provide a timely wake-up call.