Cornwood pay price for giving Lammonby let-offs

Noah Carlisle, who top scored for Cornwood in the defeat by Exeter

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

YOU can’t give First Class players like Tom Lammonby second chances and hope to get away with it.

That was the lesson learned by Cornwood’s players after their 98-run defeat by Exeter.

Lammonby had a sensational mini-season for Somerset in 2020, during which he scored three tons in six Bob Willis Trophy games, including a ton in the Lord’s final of the competition.

Cornwood gave Lammonby a couple of lives early on – one a leg-side stumping when he was a long way out of his ground, the other a low caught-and-bowled chance – and he went on to make 111 in Exeter’s total of 278 for six.

Lammonby went in at eight for two in the sixth over and was still there at the end of the innings on 111 not out.

Billy Buckingham on his way to a four-wicket haul for ExeterAlong the way Lammonby put on 141 for the fifth Exeter wicket with Ed Middleton, whose 66 off 73 balls was a personal best in Premier cricket.

Exeter captain Robin Fern whacked 27 not out off 13 balls – 13 of those runs coming in the final over from Josh Coker.

There were two wickets each for Cornwood’s Matt Skeemer, Coker and James Richardson. Skeemer’s two for 38 and Ethan Carlisle’s 0-13 off five were the premium spells.

“Unfortunately, we gave Lammonby a couple of chances and he made us pay and played a quality innings,” said Jackson Thompson, the Cornwood captain.

“Cornwood did well in the field for the most part, but in key moments some lapses in our lengths cost us a few extra runs. “

Cornwood got to 108 for two in reply with Thompson (17), teenage debutant Noah Carlisle (42), Elliott Staddon (35) and Ben Beaumont (17) all chipping in.

Carlisle’s departure was the first of three wickets to go for two runs scored, a mini-collapse that altered the complexion of the game.

Billy Buckingham (4-16) and left-arm spinner Dom Tuohey (4-44) both took wickets as 110 for two morphed to 123 for six then 143 for eight.

George Thompson showed some grit batting at fifth wicket down to make 41, but the damage had been done and when he was ninth out on 170 the end wasn’t far away.

Thompson took the positives where he could from a defeat that leaves Cornwood one off the bottom of the table.

“Batting wise it was really pleasing to see young Noah Carlisle do well and he looked the part opening the batting,” said Thompson.  

“Elliott Staddon and George Thompson did well for us, but we lost momentum at key junctures.

“With the pitch turning prodigiously in the second half it proved difficult keep at it with regular losing of wickets. 

“We refocus and go again this week against Hatherleigh.”