Francis Clark
Devon League A division
Tavistock v Budleigh Salterton
A SEE-SAW game, which Tavistock should have lost but ultimately could have won, finished in a draw on Saturday to keep hopes of avoiding relegation alive for a little longer.
Tavistock asked Budleigh to bat on a wicket that was bowler-friendly.
Tshepo Legodi took advantage early on to have Rob Newing superbly caught by Dave Manning trying to leg glance. He was followed by Steve Nicholson who produced an excellent inswinger to remove skipper Neil Murrin, bowled for 11.
Budleigh had crawled up to 49 when Manning repeated his leg side catching trick to remove Dave Mitchell. Nicholson claimed his third wicket in a fine spell with the score on 62 when Paul Escott gave him a sharp return catch and departed for 22.
This brought John Wright in to join Greg Marks and with 30 overs gone some adventure was required to get the scoreboard moving. Nicholson had other ideas and off the second ball he found the edge of Wright's bat. The ball flew to Dave Watson in the gully, who dropped a straightforward chance. This was to prove a costly miss as Wright would finish as Budleigh's top scorer.
Legodi replaced Nicholson and after a couple of streaky shots and good blows he tucked Marks up for room and forced him to give a catch to Dave Downham at square leg — 93-5. He then removed Stuart Lodge with a leg stump yorker for a duck, the score being exactly 100.
Paul Heyes joined Wright and mixed careful defence with the odd mighty swipe while Wright was starting to look more confident.
Skipper Steve Luffman came into the attack and in his second over struck a double blow having Wright caught by Legodi at cover and Dave Messon lbw first ball — 138 for 8.
Richard Marks and Heyes concentrated on batting through the remaining 7 overs until Andy Gauler had Heyes caught slogging off the last ball of the innings for 29.
The target of 162 to win looked attainable at tea with some solid batting. Half an hour later it looked a mile away as the scoreboard read 14 for 4.
Watson had been yorked by Heyes, followed two balls later by McGahey caught in the gully for a duck. Heyes then caught Luscombe at second slip and completed his personal rout of the top order when he had Manning caught, also at second slip, in the next over.
Phil Stephens and Luffman decided attack was the best form of defence. The approach worked well initially and despite Stephens being dropped and Luffman edging through the slips the score started to move.
Luffman smashed Mitchell over extra cover for 6 and things were looking rosier when Heyes struck again. He got a short ball to nip back and as Luffman tried to leave it the ball brushed his glove on its way to the keeper — 54 for 5.
Legodi entered the fray in determined fashion, defending with care and pushing looser balls around. Mitchell claimed the crucial wicket of Stephens in his last over, having the ex-Cornwall star caught driving at mid off.
Legodi took this as his cue to start to dominate the bowlers, which he did to some effect. The score had risen to 110 before Dave Jeffery, who had provided Legodi with valuable support, was caught at mid-on.
Legodi pressed on until, with the winning post in sight, he swung across the line, missed and was bowled by Marks.
Andy Gauler and Dave Downham, although running well, were unable to pierce the field often enough or with enough venom to force the issue and the chase petered out at 152 for 8.
The draw yielded 9 points for Tavistock and 13 for promotion outsiders Budleigh.
Things are not about to get any easier for Tavistock as this week they visit table-topping Abbotskerswell and are still 11 points behind Seaton and securing A division cricket for next season.