Tavistock 1st v

Alphington 1st

TAVISTOCK emerged from this clash with nine points and a creditable draw on Saturday.

They won the toss and asked Alphington to bat. The track was moist but played beautifully all day and the home batsmen tucked in.

Andy Kaitiff deceived Graham White into giving a simple catch to Olly Hicks at mid on with the score at 13 but from then on Alphington barely faltered.

Skipper Ian Ainscough and Aussie Mitch Walters added 80 for the next wicket before Kaitiff caught Ainscough off Gauler for a steady 38.

Walters was third out at 164, bowled by Gauler for an impressive 82 off 90 balls.

There was a break for rain with 16 overs to go and both sides lost three overs from their allotted 50. When play resumed, Alphington set about the bowling with real intent. Gauler claimed his third victim at 182.

With 10.3 overs to go this brought together Nick Gott and Shane Coe who simply smashed the ball to all parts. Gott took 53 while Coe was even more devastating with 40 from 23 balls. Together they added 96 in 63 balls and 35 minutes, to finish on 278 for 4 from 47 overs.

All the bowlers took a mauling, although Olly Hicks continued his development with a tidy spell and Andy Gauler had figures of 15 overs, 4 maidens, 68 runs, 3 wickets.

One disappointing aspect was Tavistock bowling 27 wides and backing this up with suspect ground fielding.

Tavistock set off on the run chase with some early boundaries from Dave Watson and Paul Tomkies. Then the irrepressible Coe persuaded Tomkies to edge behind and Tavistock were 24 for 1.

Dave Manning followed in identical fashion four runs later to bring skipper Steve Luffman to the crease. He hit his first ball for four and together he and Watson added 72 in 44 minutes.

Coe then bounced Luffman who was unlucky to be given out caught behind, as the ball appeared to have glanced off the top of his head!

He had made a belligerent 47 off 41 balls with nine fours before being out with the score on 105 for 3 in the 25th over.

Legodi went at 121 but Watson was still in and looking to accelerate. He finally went trying a big hit for 67 including five 4s and with him went the chance of victory.

Tavistock decided to abandon the chase and secure five batting points by scoring at least 200. There was still time for John McGahey to hit a fluent 51 from 26 as Tavistock finished on 227 for 6, earning Alphington 14 points.

Coe completed a good game by recording figures of 14-3-59-3 and his partner Gott had 10-0-40-2.

Tavistock are at South Devon this week and have rearranged the fixture with Alphington, cancelled due to foot and mouth, for Sunday July 29 at the Ring.