Tamar league A division
Yelverton thirds v Ordulph
ON a warm sunny afternoon, Yelverton's innings got off to a brisk start with Spear and Avery leading the way with some controlled batting.
Slowly the opening Ordulph attack of Dhanjal and Folley started to take control with the scalps of three of the top Yelverton order assisted by some sharp takes from new keeper Wellard.
The Yelverton run rate was now pedestrian at best with opener Avery (33) providing the backbone of the innings and doing his best to push things along. With the introduction of Duke (3 for 24) to the Ordulph attack more wickets fell including that of Avery which gave Ordulph the hope of chasing a very modest total.
A late flurry from Nixon (20) and Heath (24) put a bit of respectability on the Yelverton total of 154 for 8.
Ordulph openers Melhuish and Dhanjal got things going at a reasonable rate with the score ticking over nicely although they never really looked totally in control with the Yelverton attack of O'Hanlon and Roe looking very sharp.
It was O'Hanlon rattling through most of the Ordulph top order before they got settled with impressive figures of 4 for 26 with only 82 on the board for Ordulph.
At this point Yelverton must have been as confident but the Ordulph tail with plenty of overs in hand batted sensibly determined to see the overs out, and with that, hopefully enough runs to get them home.
The backbone of this Ordulph rearguard action was a gritty resolute stand of 23 not out by Duke, assisted by a timely 20 from Smith, 11 from Sandison, and then a patient 10 not out from Folley.
With eight wickets down and one over to go fittingly it was Duke who took Ordulph over the line with a lovely cover drive four on the last ball of the penultimate over.
This was a good tight contest, and a vastly improved Ordulph fielding display from that displayed in previous games.
Next week, again with half their team missing, Ordulph are entertained by neighbours Milton Abbot.