Crucial dismissal helps secure one-day title for Cornwall

The vital wicket of Grafton's Lou Vincent for 59, the eighth to fall, was the vital action in the final of the Auckland premier cricket one-day final.

Cornwall compiled 201 from 48.1 overs and Grafton was well on track at 7-181 and 27 balls remaining when Vincent was undone by a slower ball from former Central Districts medium-fast bowler, Dean Askew and was easily caught at cover by Dave Storer.

The final two wickets fell within the next 13 balls with the addition of just seven runs.

Cornwall used its first class battery of Richard Morgan, Heath Davis and Agnew to very good effect, with Davis particularly accurate.

Each took three wickets with Davis having an opening spell of 4-0-6-1 and ending with 3-23 from nine overs.

Cornwall skipper, Charles Ewart scored 40 and provided the backbone for his side's innings. Glamorgan professional, Mike Powell (33), was also solid but Grafton was alarmed by the 39 extras its bowlers provided, 18 coming from wides.

Andre Adams took 3-53 and was most accurate when he came from his short run-up, but the tightest attack for Grafton was the off-spin of another of the English professionals, David Paynter who ended with 2-21 from 10 overs.

Paynter also played a leading role with the bat when he scored 53 and with Vincent added 82 for the third wicket.

Cornwall's victory qualified the side for the national club championships on its home ground at Cornwall Park next April.

Result:

Cornwall 201 in 48.1 overs (C Ewart 40, M Powell 33; A Adams 3-53) bt Grafton 188 in 47.8 overs (L Vincent 59, D Paynter 53; H Davis 3-23, D Askew 3-34, R Morgan 3-35).