Devon B division

Barnstaple v Tavistock first XI

TAVISTOCK maintained their unbeated record getting another winning draw (14 points) away at Barnstaple.

For the sixth time in seven matches the toss was lost and Tavistock were put in to bat. A steady start was made by Josh Stephens and Ian Gray before Gray departed caught off a leading edge to make it 37-1 off 15 overs.

Runs then became even more difficult to come by as a relentless spin attack gave little away. Steve Luffman played the anchor role to prevent the collapses of recent matches which was especially important with the absence of Dave Manning.

100-4 with only 10 overs left however, was likely to leave Tavistock with too few runs to play with. Hendrick it was again, who came to the rescue with 73 runs in quick time to get Tavistock up to a very respectable 197-5.

Barnstaple got off to a reasonable start. Hendricks bowled sharply and was unlucky to have Barton first dropped then bowled off a no-ball.

Breakthroughs did however come at regular intervals inspite of Tavistock's fielding which was again lamentable at time with far too many drops.

Bartons was the main benefactor of this laxity. He was dropped four times and survived a couple of close run out decisions. There was a certain amount of poetic justice in the fact that when it did depart it was to a one-handed diving catch running backwards from Ian Gray.

Barnstaple probably should have won the match but lost wickets at important times. Hendricks was the pick of the bowlers 4-57.

In the end a draw was perhaps the fairest result.