Late run-out undoes Sharp's good work after captain takes five wickets

Cornwall's Minor Counties Championship final against Buckinghamshire is well poised going into today's third day at Truro.

After Cornwall had enjoyed a good day with the ball, a couple of late wickets in their second innings just before the close have thrown the game back into the balance.

The hosts boast a lead of 111 runs with six second-innings wickets remaining, so this morning's first hour or so could prove to be crucial.

If the weather holds, with two days remaining, there is plenty of time for a positive result.

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Having recovered to 257 all out on the first day, Cornwall did well to restrict the visitors to 205 for nine thanks to spinners Tom Sharp and Shakil Ahmed, who sent down a total of 73 overs unchanged.

Play began 15 minutes late at 10.15am, with Sam Hockin and Rob Harrison bowling a tight early spell. The breakthrough came with the introduction of spin.

Sharp had Alex Morgan caught at short leg by Matt Robins. Fahim Qureshi followed when he was brilliantly caught by a diving Jake Libby at backward point for 29.

Former Northamptonshire man Mal Loye hit Sharp for a six and went on to make 26 off 53 balls in an hour at the crease. Sharp got the vital wicket of the former England player, however, with an leg before wicket decision just before lunch.

After the interval, Michael Payne was caught at slip by Tom Hughes, David Cranfield-Thompson had an unsuccessful swipe at Ahmed, and Joel Pope top edged a sweep to be caught by David Roberts.

That left Buckinghamshire 128 for six and in danger of a significant first-innings deficit. Skipper Jason Harrison dug in to make 21 but it took him two hours and 115 balls before he was lbw to Sharp.

The third fifty of the innings took 30 overs. Shaftab Khalid made 36 not out and Faisal Ali hit a breezy 24, including a six off his Dinton club-mate Ahmed, to see up the 200.

The innings ended two overs after tea with Cornwall's lead 52. Sharp took five for 76 off 38 overs, and Ahmed three for 73 from 35 overs.

Libby was the first to go in Cornwall's second innings when he was caught behind chasing a wide delivery.

Roberts fell leg before to Simon Stanway to make it 34 for two. Matt Robins was going well with Taylor Williams, but it all went wrong with 15 minutes left in gloomy light.

Williams went for a quick single to mid-wicket but Robins failed to make his ground after a mix-up to be unnecessarily run out for 23.

Worse was to follow when night-watchman Harrison went lbw first ball. Williams (18 not out) and Neil Curnow saw out the closing overs.

Play is again due to start at 10am on what should a fascinating day.