TAVISTOCK registered their first win of the season with a resounding victory over Alphington on Saturday. This was a vital basement battle and Tavistock held their nerve to win by 153 runs.

Alphington won the toss and asked Tavistock to bat on a slow wicket. They bowled well early on and at 25 overs Tavistock had reached a watchful 68-1.

Gareth Tidball was the batsman to fall, caught at square leg for 10 off the bowling of Wilson.

At this stage Andy Kaitiff pulled his hamstring and Tidball had to return as a runner. He was hardly required to run, though, as Kaitiff decided to apply the long handle and started to spray boundaries around in spectacular fashion.

He was finally brilliantly caught by James on the long on boundary for 59.

Dave Manning joined Ian Gray and caught the party mood. He blasted 23 off one over from Beasant before skying one to Weeks off the bowling of James.

Steve Luffman came in and produced a frenetic 21 off 12 balls for the innings to close at 251-3.

The real star of the show, though, had been Gray who batted throughout the innings for 84 not out. It was an innings of great application and skill and provided the solid base for the other batters to play their shots. A great effort.

Steve Dembitzer stepped up and ripped apart the top order of the Alphington batsmen. The tall South African bowled Wilson for a duck in his first over. He then clean bowled McDonald in his second and had veteran Coe smartly caught by Gauler in the gully in his fourth, to reduce the visitors to 13-3.

Weeks put up some strong resistance before skying one to Gray at mid off to give Dembitzer figures of 4-31.

Lee Baker then persuaded big hitter Bamber to give Gray another catch at mid off and when James skied a pull off a Tidball full toss Alphington's resistance was broken.

Sean Cleave stepped to claim 3 for 12 as the tail folded, with Tidball mopping up the other wicket to leave Beasant unbeaten on 21, but Alphington all out for 98.

Tavistock claimed 20 points while Alphington went home with just one.

This week Tavistock travel to South Devon in another relegation contest.