Devon division B
Bideford v
Tavistock firsts
A DISTINCTLY unimpressive losing draw at Bideford on Saturday still left Tavistock with lots to do on the final week end to gain promotion.
Tavistock won the toss and elected to bowl first on a wicket that looked to favour the bowling side. This it very much did with movement both in the air and off the seam.
Baker again opened the bowling in his customary frugal manner. This week he was rewarded with wickets as Bideford struggled to score. At 25 overs Bideford had been reduced to 55-5. The hardness of the ball by this stage had gone; this and some enterprising airborne stroke-play from Ford and Haytor led to an 85 run partnership which would make the difference in this match.
Ford was eventually out for 85 and Bideford made a very respectable 176-8.
Tavistock lost two wickets early to some good bowling from Waterman. Stephens then bedded in in the hope that someone might stay with him. There were a few small partnerships but unfortunately as has been the case this season on softer pitches, the batsmen tended to get out when trying to increase the scoring rate.
While Tavistock never really looked like losing the match, they never looked like winning it either. In the end they finished on 142-8.
This means that to be certain of promotion next week they will have to beat Barnstaple.