Promotion and execution

Mullion 1s continued their excellent recent form by hammering Wendron 2s at Garro Lane by a massive 269 runs. Mullion skipper Jim Pearson won the toss and elected to bat against a weakened Wendron and his decision was soon vindicated as Mullion openers Trevor Lee and Kevin Bosustow dominated the Wendron bowlers.

They put on a vast 250-run opening partnership until Lee was bowled by the evergreen Glenwood Wearne for an entertaining 116 in only 110 balls that included 18 fours and two 6s. Bosustow reached his century off 122 balls and when Captain Jim joined him, they pushed the score towards 300 when until Pearson was bowled by Hale for 9.

Bosustow was bowled in the last over by Wearne for an excellent 145 off 152 balls that included 19 fours and two sixes and the Mullion innings closed on 316 for three from their 48 overs.

This huge target was always going to be beyond the capabilities of the Wendron and they were soon in trouble as Mark Johnson Junior and Jeff Charlston dismissed both openers without a run on the board.

The young Johnson again bowled well and the nagging line and length of Charleston was back on track after last weeks blip and he scythed through the middle order taking 5 for 22 in a superb 10 over spell. Tony Matthews knocked over the tail to finish with 3 from 16 as Mullion picked up twenty points and earned promotion.

Next week Mullion entertain league leaders Chacewater in a match that will decide the title with only three games remaining. The last fixture between the sides saw Mullion win with one ball to spare, so all the signs are for a cracking game.

Cockspur Rum Man of the Match, Kevin Bosustow

Mullion 1s 316-3 in 48 ov (T Lee 116, K Bosustow 145); Wendron 2s 47ao in 20.4 ov (S Kerry 29; J Charlston 5-22). Mullion 1s win by 269 runs

After the previous weeks debacle against St Erme (for which no match report was filed, so apologies), Mullion 2s travelled to Mount Hawke hoping to exorcise a few ghosts (having been soundly beaten by the same opponents earlier in the season), and get their promotion hopes back on track.

With regular skipper Mark "Facilities" Johnson STILL on holiday (does he still exist, or is he merely a figment of the imagination), Ian "Buddha" Laity yet again grasped the poisoned chalice, won the toss and like a true gentleman asked the home side to bat.

The Mt Hawke openers began nervously against the new ball attack of Buddha and club chairman Dave Fowles - although the bat was beaten on several occasions, when the ball did find the edge it somehow managed to avoid the Mullion fielders. Was it going to be another of those days? Maybe not, as Buddha made the initial breakthrough bowling Solomon for 11. Lovelock was the new batsmen and he had hardly time to settle before the curse of the Buddha struck again, this time it was Hobbs, the other opener who departed having had his stumps receive some cosmetic realignment.

Brian Skelton was the new batsman, and after a couple more overs Buddha gave way to Gary Tremayne. Skelton responded by striking Tremayne for a huge six over deep mid-on, and the battle lines were drawn.

Taking a particular fancy to the bowling of Fowles, striking the ball very cleanly, Skelton advanced to a well-deserved 50 leaving Lovelock playing a support role, so much so that he eventually tweaked a hamstring and sadly had to retire, being replaced by Looker.

Following the drinks break Mullion began to look like a cricket team again, and their bowlers (helped in particular by some fine fielding by Jacob Rae) at last managed to put the brakes on the Mount Hawke run-making machinery, and as a result Skelton allowed frustration to get the better of him and was bowled by Richard Kemp for 75. Unfortunately this only succeeded in bring Steve Cloak to the crease, and readers with elephantine memories will recall that it was the Mr Cloak that put the Mullion bowling to the sword in the earlier game.

Yet again a dropped catch was to prove expensive as Fowles (having replaced Tremayne from the top end) enticed Cloak into an attempted pull, the ball taking the top edge and shooting skywards like a distress rocket - after what seemed like an age the ball plummeted earthwards only to fall through wicketkeeper's gloves and come to rest on the turf. 12 balls later, lady luck decided to smile on Fowles as Mark Jennings gratefully accepted a gentle chance at point to dismiss Looker for 14. At the tea interval the home side had amassed 228 for 8.

Undaunted, Mullion tucked into tea before beginning their assault on the large, but definitely achievable total. Sadly Mount Hawke had set their own agenda which involved Stutley miss-timing a pull of the second ball of the innings on to watch with horror as it was pouched at square leg by Maltwood with all the ease of a starving hamster. 0

This brought Bruce Jordan to the middle to partner Jennings and together they put together an untroubled partnership of 63 before Jennings had the misfortune to get an inside edge which rolled into his leg stump via his pad. Mark Laity came and returned very shortly bowled through. Buddha Laity replaced him but hopes of a long and fruitful partnership were dashed nine runs later when Bruce Jordan was on the receiving end of a dubious (in his opinion) LBW decision, departing with 40 runs to his name.

Wickets fell regularly, Gary Tremyane offered some token resistance with a swift 10 before he was caught and bowled by Skelton, as did Dave Fowles (batting with a runner - which can always provide amusement) who lasted three balls scoring 10 in the process before being bowled by Skelton. Jacob Rae managed to survive the carnage as the Mullion innings subsided to 107 all out. This disappointing result effectively scuppers Mullion's chance of promotion, but cricket is a strange game.

Mt Hawke 2s 228-8 in 48 ov (B Skelton 75; R Kemp 3-44); Mullion 2s 107ao in 34 ov (B Jordan 40; D Maltwood 3-16). Mt Hawke 2s won by 121 runs.