Exeter St James

THE off-stump of the last Exeter batsman cartwheeled backwards at 6.34pm, giving Tavistock an emphatic 136-run victory over the St James side and underlined the intent to return to the A division next year.

On a hard flat track up at the ring, skipper Dave Manning lost the toss and Tavistock were put in to bat. They got off to a reasonable start, making 37 for the first wicket before Orin Roesstorff was beaten by a delivery that did a little off the wicket.

Steve Luffman was brought to the crease and started to launch an attack on what was at best a distinctly average bowling line up. Not for the first time his six tally outnumbered his four.

John McGahey, not to be out-done, cashed in in more orthodox fashion and the pair took the score to 102 for the second wicket in the 23rd over. Luffman was out pulling a slow long-hop and McGahey caught behind for the top score of 58.

Manning was joined at the wicket by Arnie Searle who was making his return after being out for seven weeks with injury. The two made short work of the bowling, putting on 53 in the 7 overs that they were together. Andrew Kaitiff (38) with help most notably from Ben Neale in the tail, took the score to a respectable total of 256-9.

The bowling display that followed should be set against the fact that the pitch was playing flat and true. Tavistock for a number of years have lacked a strike bowler of real pace and focussed aggression. On Saturday they had one.

Roesstorff, who at times this season may well have wondered why he didn?t pack his diving fins rather than his cricket spikes when he came over from South Africa, had a wicket much more to his liking.

Les Ames, who has scored most of Exeter?s runs this season, was dismissed with a fast late inswinging delivery to which he shouldered arms and Evans was just beaten for pure pace.

The later batsmen were instructed on the finer points of batting technique by Roesstorff, but none were able to follow the lessons. He topped and tailed the innings finishing with figures of 5-27. A fine bowling performance.

John Doel, playing his last match for Tavistock, swung the ball both ways to finish with 2-41.

Searle had lost none of his guile and bowled the perfect deliveries that were required to root out the middle order.

Exeter St James were all out for 120.

This was the sort of quality performance Tavistock will need to maintain if they are to return to the A division again.