Oak Park, the home ground of Cornwood Cricket Club, thoroughly enjoyed hosting the Devon against Gloucester Twenty20 fixture last Friday.

The match was played as a joint benefit game for Alex Gidman and the David Shepherd Cricket Foundation, which supports youth cricket.

Although well used to seeing quality cricket of their own, with Cornwood 1st XI's triumph last weekend at Braunton leaving them second in the A division table with three matches left, the punters flocked to see this entertaining match, with around 500 people estimated to have attended.

The crowd were particularly enthusiastic about Devon youngster Adam Goodliffe's performance, taking 1-33, perhaps unsurprisingly given he is a rising star of the Cornwood set-up who has been on fine form this season!

Fellow Cornwood player James Burke was making his county bow in this game, and made a very creditable 26 before becoming Devon's second wicket to fall.

In the end, and to the surprise of few seasoned cricket commentators, the Gloucester Gladiators were a class apart, notching up an imposing total of 215-5, with former Middlesex batsman Dan Housego top scoring with 68 off just 40 deliveries.

Ian Cockbain was third-highest scorer for Gloucester before he was bamboozled by a Goodliffe slower ball.

In reply, Devon were brave but ultimately came up well short, finishing on 130-9 to lose by 85 runs.

Given Cornwood's season, like so many others in the Devon Cricket League, has been suffering due to the foul conditions, the opportunity to get bodies through the gate and watching cricket was a great relief to the club.

Cornwood spokesman Nick Goodliffe added that the club was particularly pleased that they had managed to raise enough to be able to give a proper donation to both Gidman and to the foundation.

Given three out of Cornwood's four representative teams are pushing for promotion out of their various leagues as we approach the business end of the season, there is plenty for the club to be satisfied with.

The match-winning return of overseas player Muhammed Salman, who made an impressive contribution with 53 not out with the bat and 4-25 with the ball, is just another cherry on the cake of an impressive season.

The 1st XI face a winnable trip to Abbotskerswell this weekend, and will be looking for maximum points to extend their seven-point cushion over third-placed Paignton.

Prior to the match, Gidman officially opened Cornwood's £50,000 practice nets, funded by the Sport England inspired facilities grant. The facility is a great boot for the club and its players.