Francis Clark Devon League

A division

Tavistock v Alphington

TAVISTOCK crashed to a six-wicket defeat on Saturday, which makes survival in the A division look an uphill struggle.

There were mitigating circumstances, however, in the form of a nasty shower 15 minutes before play started which turned what looked a good batting surface into a spiteful, unpredictable wicket.

Steve Luffman lost the toss and it was no surprise when Alphington skipper Andy Mills asked him to bat.

Geoff Crudgington was first to go. Andy Kaitiff joined Dave Jeffery and they took the score steadily up to 46 before Jeffery got a short ball which climbed alarmingly and he could only fend it off to the waiting Shaun Coe.

Luffman arrived, struck a couple of sweet boundaries and was then bowled trying to drive Tim Collier on the up; not a clever shot on such a wicket.

Kaitiff was bowled by Andy Wilson driving over a full length ball to give Wilson his third wicket and Tavistock were 66 for 4.

Kaitiff's 28 had taken 71 balls and highlighted the need for application on this type of track.

Dave Manning became Wilson's fourth victim when he dragged a ball wide of leg stump back onto the wicket with his back foot! Some guys have all the luck.

When Nick Gott bowled Tshepo Legodi for 2 Tavistock were 77 for 6 and deep in trouble.

The two old heads of John McGahey and Andy Gauler tried to dig the team out of trouble and carefully took the score up to 111, the well known devil number of English cricket known as the Nielson.

The hex was certainly working as first Gauler, for a patient 7, then Tremellen for a duck and finally McGahey for a hard fought 19, all fell on the same score.

This left Ollie Hicks and Ben Neale to try and get Tavistock a defendable score.

After some lusty swinging Hicks was caught at extra cover for 4 in the final over to give Collier his fourth victim for a post of only 22 runs from 14.3 overs, and close Tavistock's innings on 119, Neale remaining on 4 not out.

The hot sun had dried the track during the afternoon and when Giles White and Mark Stanley opened the innings they took full advantage of the easier conditions to advance steadily to 44 before Manning stumped White superbly off Gauler for 14.

Tremellen bowled well, without any luck, and Gauler bowled an excellent spell of 8 overs for 9 runs, but the next victim was a run out, Stanley for 28, Alphington 76 for 2.

Kaitiff had Richard Coe caught for 18 and Jeffery trapped Gott lbw for the same score, but the end was inevitable.

Appropriately skipper Andy Mills struck the winning runs with 13.4 overs to spare to claim 19 points to Tavistock's 3.

This week's game at struggling South Devon has now become a must-win for Tavistock, or they can start to prepare for life in the B division next season.