A GREAT game of cricket ended in another defeat for Tavistock at Brixham. Brixham won the toss, batted and struggled in the face of a miserly spell from Lee Baker. He finished with the first three wickets, including Devon legend Andy Pugh, off 15 overs for 25 runs. After 30 overs they had crawled to 64 for three, but Roger Ward used the long handle in the last 20 overs to raise the final total to 163. He smashed three sixes and three fours to finish 50 not out from 48 balls, although he was dropped before he got going. Apart from Baker, Steve Dembitzer bowled tidily for figures of 1-19 off 10 and Sean Cleave bowled an excellent spell at the end to claim 2-24 off seven. Tavistock set off confident they could chase the score down and a fine opening stand of 45 was only broken when Pakistani left armer Iqbal turned one sharply to Gareth Tidball who was caught by Pugh for 15. Ian Gray followed 20 runs later, nicking a quicker ball from Iqbal to the keeper for an excellent, watchful 39. Steve Dembitzer, promoted to give the spinner a scare, smashed for a big six and a four before gloving a ball that bounced extravagantly to the keeper. Harry Gearing quickly followed, caught at slip to give the spinner his fourth wicket. Steve Luffman joined Andy Kaitiff and they quickly added 23 to reach 113 when both fell on the same score. Luffman, having launched a huge six, was caught by a diving Iqbal at mid-on for 11, then Kaitiff got a lbw decision to depart with a patient 22 against his name. Mark Webber and Jake Luffman reached 125 before the younger Luffman was also caught by Iqbal off a well struck clip to square leg. Webber and Sean Cleave now joined in a spirited stand of 23, Cleave hitting a six and a four before dragging a wide ball back onto the stumps to be bowled for 14. With 16 still needed but departed two balls later for nought, controversially caught behind off Orchard, Webber, needing 16 from 12 balls, immediately hit a six to reduce the target to ten from 11 balls. Two balls later his brave, defiant effort ended when he carved a short ball to cover where Chris Lanyon held the catch to win the game for Brixham. Webber's 21 was a fine effort from a young man in a high pressure situation. Brixham took 18 points and Tavistock six. This week Tavistock entertain Alphington in a crucial basement battle.
