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Curtis impresses on debut
Overseas signing, Curtis Campher made an impressive debut for Somerset as he helped his new side to a 63 run (DLS Method) victory over Cornwall in this National County fixture at Truro.
The Ireland international, who has signed for the opening five fixtures in this season’s Metro Bank One Day Cup, only joined up with his teammates yesterday afternoon, but top scored and claimed a wicket with his first ball as Somerset warmed up for Friday’s 50-over match against Warwickshire with a second win in three days.
A wet outfield meant that the start of the match was delayed by 30 minutes which led to the game being reduced to 47 overs per side.
Cornwall won the toss and elected to bowl.
The hosts had cause to celebrate early on as Andy Umeed was caught at first slip for 0 off the final ball of the opening over from Ben Ellis with just one run on the board. George Thomas then dominated a second wicket stand as he and Lewis Goldsworthy (9) shared 52 before the latter became Ellis’ second victim of the morning off the opening delivery of the 11th over at 53 for two. Shortly afterwards, Thomas brought up his half century from just 46 balls with eight fours.
Goldsworthy’s departure saw Ireland international, Curtis Campher join Thomas in the middle to make his Somerset debut and the pair took the score to three figures in the 19th over. The 50-partnership for the third wicket came off just 53 balls and was eventually worth 92 when Thomas was bowled by Matt Lawrence for 78. His runs, 44 of which were boundaries, coming from just 81 balls.
145 for three soon became 152 for four when George Bartlett was caught behind for five. In between however, Campher reached a debut half century off 46 balls. The Somerset debutant and Josh Thomas brought up the 200 in the 35th over, and Campher went to his 100 in fine style with a big six, his sixth, straight down the ground. He reached the landmark from 84 balls.
A memorable first knock for Somerset was eventually ended in the 38th over when he fell for 107 at 241 for five. His runs came from just 89 balls and included 10 fours and six sixes.
A better than a run-a-ball 35 from Josh Thomas kept the scoreboard ticking over, and Somerset Captain, Sean Dickson added 41 from 26 deliveries as Somerset posted a total of 323 for nine from their 47 overs.
Chasing 324 for victory, Cornwall openers, Karl Leathley and Dan Jenkin shared an opening stand of 29 until the former was caught by JT Langridge on the fine leg boundary off the bowling of Jack Brooks for 10.
Campher then made an impression with the ball. He was brought into the attack to bowl the 11th over and removed Will MacVicar with his very first delivery in Somerset colours, bowling the Cornwall number three for six at 38 for two. He then removed Xavier Clarke (9) in his second over, courtesy of a catch by George Bartlett, to leave the hosts on 56 for three in the 13th over.
Jenkin top edged a short one from Langridge through to James Rew without any further addition to the score but Max Tryfonos and Paul Smith batted determinedly and brought up the Cornwall hundred in the 21st over. The pair had taken their partnership past the 50-mark and the score to 110 for four in the 22nd over when rain forced the players from the field permanently.
