At a sun-drenched Grainville, the CI won by seven wickets after using just 22.1 of their allotted 45 overs chasing 117 for victory.Cornwall put on an opening stand of 62 runs for the first wicket but they were tied down by some very accurate CI bowling and they stuttered to finish on 116 for 7.Opener Paul Robson signalled he meant business in the CI’s reply by hitting three 4s in the first over with the CI taking 14 runs from it.
Robson went on to finish unbeaten on 73 after hitting 12 boundaries.The CI rattled off the runs in 83 minutes with Robson facing 67 deliveries, his half-century arriving after 54 minutes and 46 balls.CI captain Keith Dennis said: ‘It’s great to get off to a winning start, it was an excellent team performance.’All the bowlers were economical, with left-arm spinner Ralph Anthony leading the way with three wickets for eleven runs in nine overs.
It’s nice to have three spinners in the team and Tom Gales – our new YTS-boy – and Steve Birkett were also tidy throughout.’Barry Middleton also impressed with two good spells, his opening five overs going for 15 runs and his final four at the finish conceding just six runs.Fellow opening bowler John Tall also bowled on the spot throughout and two boundaries off his final over left him with no wickets for 21 runs in his nine overs.Dennis added: ‘Paul Robson batted well to see us home early but it was a team effort.
I know for sure we will have hard games and we’re already looking forward to our next match which is against Somerset at Grainville on Saturday 12 June.’The CI Over-50s are sponsored by Credit Suisse Private Banking.
