Alec Holifield - man of the moment against Cornwall

DEVON under-12s continued their fine start to the season as they defeated Cornwall by 45 runs at Camborne CC.

Openers Jake Pascoe (39) and Cameron Ford (25) added 59 in the first ten overs, Ford using his feet well to get deep in the crease to cut well both in square and behind square of the wicket.

Pascoe was equally accomplished on the front foot on the off side and was quick to pounce on anything short and dispatched several to the boundary through the square-leg region.

Both fell within a couple of runs of each other, Pascoe bowled and Ford mistimed a drive through the on side to be caught at mid-wicket.

Lawrence Walker was run out soon after having been warned for backing up too far and was given out for the same offence.

The innings was in danger of petering out until a stand of 58 between Alec Holifield and Matt Jeaccock got Devon back on track.

Holifield as he has been all season added momentum to the innings as he ended unbeaten on 65 from 63 balls, Devon closing their innings on 190-5.

Cornwall’s reply was dominated by skipper Nathan Roberts, who held the innings together with a patient 57 from 95 balls until undone by a cutter from Jack Whittaker.

Whittaker also removed one of the openers to a super catch at slip by Lawrence Walker.

Holifield carried on his good work by completing the unlucky James Tyler’s opening over.

Tyler, only recently returned from injury, suffered a groin strain. He picked up two wickets to complete a fine, all-round performance.

The game was starting to drift a little until spinners Harry Passenger and Jacob Kopparambil came on.

Passenger (3-18) took the wickets while Kopparambil (1-10) kept it tight from the other end.

Dogged resistance by Cornwall tail-enders Sam Edwards and Max Jenkins prevented Devon bowling them out but the result was never in doubt after the dismissal of Roberts.

Devon ran out victors by 45 runs to make it four from four.

Next up for Devon are Gloucestershire who will provide a sterner test on July 16.

at Dean Close School, Cheltenham