Cranmore Youth

For the fifth year running, a team from Cranmore travelled to St Gluviers CC, Penryn, to compete in the Cornwall Youth Cricket Festival.

The competition is played in coloured kit with pink balls under "Cornish Eights" rules, where eight-man teams both bowl five eight-ball overs.

Runs straight down the ground count double, although batsmen have to retire at 25.

Cranmore were greeted by miserable weather as they alighted at Penryn station but thankfully this was not to be a foretaste of what was to come.

That evening Cranmore romped to victory by 30 runs in a hastily arranged practice match against Camborne. Cranmore's batsmen were all in-form, with Nick Pang (16), Tom Doe (26no), Tom Allen (18no) and Kieran Thick (7no) contributing to a total of 86.

In reply, the bowlers kept things tight, the pick being Charlie Smith (2-17) as Camborne could only manage 57.

Tuesday saw Cranmore cruise though the group stages, beating Praze by 35 and Redruth by 12.

Again the team played well with runs for Pang (28no and 28no), Doe (25no and 33no) and pinch-hitter Freddie Mercer (19no and 14), plus wickets for Jack Williams (2-17 and 1-12).

Perhaps the highlight was a remarkable over from Smith against Praze in which he took two wickets and conceded just three runs.

Wednesday saw the Cranmore team, joined by coaches Richard Miles, Sid Lawrence and Mike Pang and scorer Richie Stone, travel to old friends Perranporth for a couple of 20-over friendly matches.

Persistent fog at this coastal ground made for interesting playing conditions, with both teams winning a game each. The highlights of the day were 83no from Nick Pang (unfortunately on loan to Perranporth) and 53no for Lawrence.

Thursday's semi-final saw Cranmore once again facing Praze. Batting first they posted 88, thanks largely to 30no from Pang, although four run outs hampered proceedings somewhat.

In reply, Praze were never really in the chase as Cranmore's bowlers kept it tight, eventually falling 19 runs short.

A repeat of 2007 saw Cranmore once again facing Penzance in the final.

Things got off to a bad start as big hitting from Matt Stevens (40no) and Kyle Moyler (26no) saw Pang's opening over go for 33.

However, Cranmore then staged a remarkable recovery as first Mercer (1-3) and then Smith (0-8) bowled tight overs.

Although Jack Williams (1-26) and Matt Garner (2-21) both bowled well, a couple of big blows from Stevens (brought back to the crease by the judicious throwing away of wickets) took Penzance to a competitive 93 off their five overs.

In rapidly failing light, Cranmore made remarkably light work of what had seemed like a challenging chase.

Pang started well with 30no, but it was Mercer (31no off six balls) and man of the final Garner (19no off four balls) who were the heroes, striking straight down the ground for double-scoring 12s.

After just 23 balls and 17 minutes it was all over, Garner clubbing the ball for six to guide Cranmore to a comfortable victory.

Cranmore bring home the trophy for a second time in three years and are still the only team from outside Cornwall to win the competition.