Tamar A division

St Stephens v Tavistock thirds

SAINT Stephens batted first on a soft damp wicket and the Tavistock opening bowling attack of Goldstone and stand-in skipper Folley made good use of the conditions to make it hard for St Stephens to score with some accurate pitched up bowling.

After 20 overs the Tavistock attack had restricted St Stephens to only 53 runs with Folley accounting for their three top order batsmen at the personal cost of only 17 runs.

Any thoughts Tavistock had of restricting St Stephens to a low score soon evaporated with the arrival of Simon Court to the crease. Court, in his own indomitable style, upped the run rate with some free flowing big hitting. The Tavistock first change bowling however stuck to their task and assisted by some good fielding never let their heads drop despite the Court onslaught.

A tight spell from Ben Crowl and a couple of wickets to Bellamy and Lethbridge never let St Stephens totally take control. Assisted by Pike (23) and then Yeo, Court put on a superb 82 not out and with it a useful 167 for Tavistock to chase.

Openers Dhanjal and Piper found enough bad deliveries to progress the Tavistock score at a steady rate. Passing the 50 mark after 13 overs all looked 'set fair' with Tavistock in control. However with the loss of Piper to Dore, and a further two quick wickets, also to Dore, Tavistock were left facing a batting collapse. However, Bellamy arrived at the crease and immediately dispatched the first delivery for six. This was only the start of his belligerent assault on the St Stephens attack and the first of his four sixes. With Dhanjal now passing his 50 the pair fairly raced the score along as Bellamy passed 50 himself after only 38 deliveries. St Stephens hit back again with Simon Court removing Bellamy with the first of his three wickets and soon after the scalp of Dhanjal.

Tavistock still needed another 30 and its tail found a bit of resolve with firstly Goldstone hitting a useful nine and then a last wicket stand of 16 between a determined Folley (11 no) and Lethbridge, enabled Tavistock to pass the line with only two balls to spare.