Winning streak continues

A keen observer may have spotted an airborne porcine acrobatic troupe performing in the skies over central Cornwall on Saturday - Mullion 2s skipper Mark Johnson actually managed to win the toss.

With Mullion 1s not having a match this weekend due to a club pulling out of the league earlier in the season, it was only the 2s who were required to maintain the Mullion Winning Streak - away to Perranarworthal 3s.

Johnson invited the home side to bat first on a hard dry track - nothing to with England's World Cup kick off - he explained in the dressing room: "If I win the toss, I'll put them in. I don't want you lot going in to bat not concentrating because you all want to know what's going on in the footie".

The opening bowlers were expensive and Johnson may have begun to have a doubt about the wisdom of his decision. With both bowlers consistently beating the bat but being unable to find the edge, Perranarworthal progressed to 25 without loss.

Then in the 9th over Ian Laity surprised Haine with a ball that climbed and Mark Jennings running in from point took a relatively straightforward catch. 13 runs later Phil Harding, abandoned his off-stump line, bowled a straight one and claimed Risbridger for 7. Then Child holed out to Simon Merridew to give Laity his second wicket and with the penultimate ball of Phil Harding's spell, Perranarworthal skipper Mark Thomas drove powerfully straight back to the bowler and was surprised to see Phil stick out a hand and catch it.

The momentum faltered and the remaining six wickets fell for 37 runs courtesy of a fine spell of spin from Simon Merridew who's left arm round brought him 3 for 16. Gary Tremayne accounted for the other three batsmen and finished off the innings with a highly respectable 3 for 20 off 7.4 overs. Perranarworthal 95 all out from 38.4 overs.

After a fine tea, Mullion skipper Johnson asked: "Anyone fancy opening?" Normally such a question is met with silent disdain and comments about the weather being remarkably clement for the time of year, but such is the confidence following through the collective Mullion vein at the moment, wicketkeeper Joe Stutely was heard to mumble that he would be prepared to take on the responsibility.

Ably accompanied by Mark Jennings, the two Mullion openers batted very sensibly, and with some extremely good running between the wickets took the score to 70 without loss. Then Stutely was undone by a ball from Childs that kept low and lost his off stump. Shortly afterwards Jennings played round a straight ball from Gripper and was out lbw for 30. It was left to Bruce Jordan (24 not out from 20 balls) and Daniel Johnson (0 not out) to steer Mullion to a thoroughly deserved, and in the end comfortable 8 wicket victory"

Perranarworthal 3s 95 in 38.4ov (Simon Merridew 3-16; G Tremayne 3-20); †Mullion 2s 97 for 2 in 22 ov (M Jennings 30, J Stutely 25, B Jordan 24*)