Tamar A division
Ordulph Taverners v Milton Abbot
THIS was a relegation battle that neither team could afford to lose. Electing to bowl Milton Abbot proceeded to make life difficult for Ordulph with an opening spell of 10 overs each from Riggs and Baxter, with Riggs who bowled 10 overs for only 20 runs, causing no end of trouble for Ordulph but without success.
The 20 over stage came and for all their good efforts Milton could only claim the scalp of Piper bowled by Baxter but they had achieved the objective of keeping the runs down as Ordulph could only point to a meagre 48 for their efforts.
However runs came when the patient opener Dhanjal decided to open his shoulders to good effect. He was well partnered by Parisio (23), and Smith (15no) and runs now starting to flow freely. Dhanjal had a superb big hitting display including a couple of 'monster' sixes. He 'carried his bat' for the full 40 overs finishing up with a superb 84 not out, and helping Ordulph to set a useful 170 for Milton to chase.
Milton set off in pursuit at a good rate with in form Crocker making the most of an uncharacteristically loose spell of bowling from Folley. With 10 overs gone a bowling change brought together the attack of Whitfield and Smith - this paid immediate dividends for Ordulph with the wicket of Crocker (34) falling to Smith.
In tandem the Ordulph pair started to race through the Milton order in particular taking out the Milton 'danger men' of Baxter and Jenkins before they really managed to cut loose. By the time Smith (4 for 34) and Whitfield (3 for 34) had finished their devastating spell Milton looked down and out at 118 for 8 with only 10 overs left.
However Gerry in at number nine kept Milton in the chase although always behind the run rate he stayed there supported firstly by Batten and then by an injured Holding. Batten fell to Folley but Gerry and Holding kept the last wicket stand going with some intelligent batting, pushing singles and the odd boundary. It was down to the last over now with Milton requiring seven to win. With the last over falling to Folley to bowl he kept his nerve and bowled a good pitched up line, Milton were only able to pick up a couple of twos and a single leaving them tantalisingly so close yet so far away.
The result saw Ordulph win by two runs and gives them a much needed cushion from the drop zone but puts Milton in a lot of trouble firmly rooted to the bottom.