It was a day of mixed emotions for Cornwall against Oxfordshire in the Minor Counties Championship at Great Tew yesterday.
Although the evening session was washed out by a thunderstorm, at teatime, the day will go down as one of the more remarkable in county history.
Firstly Matt Robins and Jake Libby put on more than 200 for Cornwall's first wicket, only the third time the feat has been achieved.
Not to be outdone, the Oxfordshire opening pair of Richard Kaufman and Lloyd Sabin then did exactly the same, sharing an unbeaten stand of 208, surely unique in Minor County history.
With a day to go, though, it is hard to see how Cornwall can fashion a victory from here. That is what is needed, however, if they wish to go into the final game still leading the table having been overtaken by Wiltshire, who enjoyed a dramatic win inside four sessions against Herefordshire at Salisbury.
The visitors capitulated for 102 and 94 (having been 28 for seven at one stage) to lose by an innings and 98 runs before lunch yesterday. That game was completed not long after the first wicket fell at Great Tew.
Robins and Libby continued where they left off the previous evening to take their stand to 202 before Robins was lbw sweeping Luke Ryan. His 88 included 14 boundaries.
Libby completed a maiden county century, in only his sixth appearance and went on to make 139 before being bowled by Kaufman, hitting a six and 11 fours in 242 balls.
The 19-year-old is averaging a very creditable 50-plus in his first full season.
The closing overs brought some long-awaited success for the home bowlers. Kaufman had earlier got rid of Keith Parsons for 27 and Matt Rowe survived a stumping before being caught behind next ball, off a top edge without scoring.
The Cornish aim was a fourth batting point at 325. Chris Hunkin and Alex Smeeth went cheaply but the mission was accomplished thanks to a run-a-ball 36 not out from Taylor Williams and a couple of sixes from Rob Harrison. The last ten overs produced 66 runs.
Kaufman ended with five for 81 as Cornwall declared on 339 for seven at lunch.
The afternoon session was all about Kaufman (116no) and Sabin (84no) as seamers Smeeth, Sam Hockin and Harrison toiled in vain.
Devon and Dorset will have one more attempt at playing their Minor Counties Championship game at Exeter today (Tuesday) after losing a second day to bad weather.
After torrential rain prevented any play on Sunday, Exeter groundsman Andy Ellett was mopping up from first light yesterday and at one stage it seemed play might start around lunchtime.
However, a downpour shortly after 11am undid all Ellett's hard work. Two hours later puddles could still be seen on the pitch and umpires Bishopp and Hampshire abandoned play for the day.
It is yet another soggy setback for Devon, whose hopes of retaining the overall Minor Counties title they won last season have floated away.
Devon and Dorset today attempt to play a single-innings game for 12 points and no bonus points.
