Francis Clark Devon League
A Division
Tavistock v Brixham
TAVISTOCK continued their assault on the A division with another victory against lowly Brixham on Saturday.
Skipper Dave Manning asked the visitors to bat on a damp wicket and was instantly rewarded when Steve Miles and Craig Alexander both struck in their second overs.
Andy Maunder and John Lamswood steadily repaired the damage in a stand of 70 before Steve Nicholson, in a fine spell, ripped both out.
He then claimed Tim Robinson for 2 and Brixham were 88 for 5.
Alexander returned to wreak havoc, claiming three wickets of his own to finish with 4 for 53.
Visiting skipper Andy Castle then joined with Paul Heath to add 45 runs in a breezy unbroken partnership for Brixham who finished on 161 for 8 with Castle 29 not out.
The target looked 20 runs too few and Pete Jones and Andy Kaitiff set off at five an over in a fine opening stand of 76, when both fell on the same score.
Jones had scored 40 with some fine cover driving while Kaitiff?s 28 featured four on-driven boundaries.
Nineteen-year-old Dave Downham and Dave Manning added 45 at a similar rate before Manning was adjudged lbw for his customary hard struck 32.
When Steve Luffman was yorked for five by South African Pat Steytler Tavistock needed 16 to win.
In his next over Steytler took three wickets, all lbw, to reduce the spectators to nervous wrecks, Tavistock now requiring two to win with two wickets left.
To everyone?s relief the runs came in the next over from an anticlimactic wide to give Tavistock 18 points and Brixham seven.
Abbotskerswell, relegated from the premier division last season, await Tavistock this week in another crucial game.