Reading Chronicle | Sport | Naylor endures mixed fortunes for Berks

Friday, 25th July, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 7th May, 2008 15:00

Naylor endures mixed fortunes for Berks

The Royal County now host a strong Devon outfit at Falkland this Sunday (11am) knowing anything less than a victory could put a major dent in their bid to reach the quarter-finals.

But with a bit more luck, things could have been so different in Camborne where rain reduced the match to 40 overs a side. And it was the display of Naylor which left Berks manager David Morris both delighted and fuming in equal measures.

The Slough man was in superb form with bat and ball after Berks put Cornwall in on a damp wicket.

He had bagged four wickets for two runs and bowled two maidens when he pulled up with a torn intercostal muscle two balls into his six over.

Therefore, Naylor decided to drop down the batting order to No.10 – only to smash 33 runs off just 18 balls and put Berks within sight of victory.

But it was too little too late and the visitors were dismissed for 178 in 38.4 overs chasing Cornwall’s 207-6. Morris argued: “Steve said he was in agony and couldn’t bat so he dropped down the order.

“Then he went in and smashed it all over the place. If he had batted at five or six we would have won the game.

“So credit to him for having a wonderful game, but it didn’t make him universally popular in the dressing room.”

However, it was the lack of support Naylor received from his team-mates which ultimately cost Berks.

In fairness, five players did not arrive at their hotel until gone midnight after playing for their clubs on Saturday.

“It’s not ideal preparation, but they are paid to play for their clubs, so what can you do?” questioned Morris. “Some finished at 8pm Saturday, showered then drove straight down. They didn’t arrive until after midnight.

“Then we got up and had to hang around the ground while the rain stopped.

“We’re not using it as an excuse but it doesn’t help.”

Cornwall got off to a decent start thanks to an opening stand of 57 between Matthew Robins and Gary Thomas.

Teenager Robins went on to make the game’s only half-century with an impressive 59.

But the introduction of Naylor turned the game in Berks’ favour as the hosts were reduced to 72-4 – only for the all-rounder to pull up through injury. Cornwall showed little mercy and a late flurry of runs made the telling difference.

Robert Harrison hammered 37 not out in 33 balls while Gavin Edwards hit an unbeaten 39 off just 20 balls in an unbroken 70-run stand.

New Berks pro Richard Johnson had a particularly torrid time with 62 runs off his eight overs, while Carl Crowe took 2-35.

In reply, David Barnes (22), James Morris (16), skipper Bjorn Mordt (18) and Carl Crowe (17) failed to turn decent starts into a big score.

By the time Naylor provided the late fireworks with three sixes in his 18-ball 33, Berks were too far behind the run-rate and slumped to 178 all out in 38.4 overs. Having beaten Herefordshire in their opening game Morris’ side are still very much in the competition they won in 2004.

Naylor is now in a race to be fit for the visit of Devon with both Mitchell Stokes and Chris Guest on stand-by.

“We don’t know whether Steve will be capable of batting or bowling, and it will be a late decision,” explained Morris.

“We need to get the balance of the side right.

“We had a bad day at the office in Cornwall but we won’t beat ourselves up. We need a good performance and playing at home will definitely help.”

Cornwall 207-6.

Berkshire 178 all out.

Cornwall won by 29 runs.

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