THE Tavistock Rotary Club and friends have just hosted a visit by fellow Rotarians from Australia, who are touring the UK, playing cricket, taking in the countryside and of course watching their better countrymen in the one day and test series.
Thanks to the generosity of the Whitchurch Wayfarers Cricket Club an international match was played on their ground on June 18. Tavistock Rotary, strengthened by several friends from local cricket clubs, were able to field a good strength side.
Winning the toss over a cold pint of beer, the Australians elected to bat (or were encouraged to!).
Despite early inroads into the batting the inevitable Australian grit showed through with a large fourth wicket stand. It had been agreed that once a bowler took three wickets he had to come off and be replaced. Not being informed of the Australian rules, the local team only just managed to provide enough capable bowlers. The innings closed at 177 all out.
A magnificent tea was provided by the Whitchurch Club, the home team hoping that the strawberries and cream would slow down the Ozzie attack!
Tavistock Rotary managed to get off to a flying start, thanks to the hard hitting knock by one of their friends. Despite wickets falling regularly an eight wicket stand of 80 runs put the home team within winning distance, only for wickets to fall close to the winning line.
Thanks to another Australian rule of allowing any batsman to return at the end of the innings for a second knock the winning runs were scored with a magnificent 6 from one of their local electrical retailers, with six balls to spare.
After one or two cold tinnies some 100 people were welcomed by Tavistock Golf Club for a buffet and a jar or two.
The visitors departed the following morning to continue their tour in Devon and then up to the Midlands for an international tournament with colleagues from New Zealand and England.