Devon League Division C

Chagford v Stoke Gabriel

STOKE Gabriel held the upper hand for most of the time, only for Chagford, inspired through some fine individual performances, to end up in an exciting victory by 25 runs.   

Batting first  Chagford were in trouble with four wickets down for 60 runs, 5 for 66. 6 for 75 and 7 for 91 and all seemed lost.  

However Johny Coburn in an uncharacterstic patient innings took root with a view to batting out the 46 overs.  A 45 run partnership with Stuart Lord (14)  took the score to 136 before Coburn departed and Lord followed just four runs later.  

However Duncan Christophers with 23 not out and Dale Chadwick  22 not out took the score to a useful 184 for nine wickets.   The last three partnerships had added 91 runs to more than double the score.   A feature of the Stoke attack were their three-pronged pace attack of Smyth, Sandbrook and Bolland who all caused the Chagford batsmen trouble to finish with 3-42 and 3-45 and 2 for 37 respectively.  However the three support bowler ended up wicketless and conceeded 57 runs in their seven overs.

In the Stoke reply they too lost early wickets and were 69 for four.  However skipper Robinson was in superb form and joined by promising youngster Taylor gradually built on the score with Robinson interspersing his sound defence with some glorious shot all round the wicket. 

In going for a big straight six he was well caught on the boundary for a well deserved 61, with the score at 135 for six.   

This was the signal for Stoke to collapse and the last five wickets fell for the addition of only 24 runs as Stoke subsided to 159 all out with Taylor the last man out for a dogged 29, giving Chagford a hard fought victory

If the pace bowlers were the stars of the Stoke attack, Chagford were well served by their spin bowlers with Mark Gribble 4-47, Dean Topping 2-29 and Jerry Christophers three for 37. Jerry also enjoyed a good day as skipper with excellent field placings and every bowler change bringing a reward.  Stuart with two quick fire stumpings and a catch provided good support to his bowlers.

Chagford are still second in the league just four points behind Cockington, but are closely followed by Ivybridge.  

Next Saturday Chagford visit relegation- threatened Bridestowe.