Tavistock v Alphington

TAVISTOCK came down to earth with a bump on Saturday after their resounding opening day success at Tiverton last week.

Alphington returned home to Exeter with 20 points after an inspired spell of bowling from young Andy Wilson and an abject batting display from Tavistock.

Tavistock won the toss and asked the visitors to bat on what looked a helpful wicket. Tshepo Legodi carried on from where he left off last week with a fine opening burst which could have easily netted him three of four wickets. In fact it was Andy Tremellen in his first outing this year who struck first, bowling Aussie Mike Stanley off his inside edge for 10.

Rob Coe then joined Gary White who was starting to play some attractive shots. Andy Gauler and Steve Nicholson replaced the opening bowlers in the attack but the players were forced off the pitch by drizzle, which made the ball resemble a bar of soap, with the score at 64 for 1.

When play resumed, Gauler struck first ball to trap White lbw for 29, and five runs later he clean-bowled skipper Andy Mills for a duck. Coe was now joined by his son and the two left-handers accelerated the scoring rate in the highest stand of the day.

Tavistock's fielding deteriorated rapidly with at least three catches going down and ground fielding to match.

Tavistock skipper Steve Luffman replaced Nicholson and broke the stand, trapping Coe junior lbw for 26 with the total on 123. Coe senior started to lash out but it was Steve Tompkins who went first, bowled by Tremellen for 15.

Legodi was finally rewarded when Coe missed a straight one to record a lusty 53. Luffman, having replaced Tremellen, then struck twice in two balls to reduce Alphington to 178 for 8.

Adam Ballett nursed the tail through to the last over adding 27 valuable runs in the process before Luffman bowled him with a yorker to finish with 4 for 35.

The target was 205 but should have been much less had the fielding and particularly the catching been up to A division standard. If Tavistock thought that was bad, there was worse to come.

Setting off in pursuit of the runs Tavistock reached 34, for the loss of Gauler, in quick time. John McGahey was then given out lbw when a long way forward to trigger a collapse of titanic proportions.

Tavistock were all out for 87 with five players recording ducks. Dave Watson provided the only real resistance with a belligerent 36 and Steve Nicholson was undefeated on 13 at the close.

Andy Wilson was the iceberg to Tavistock's batting Titanic, claiming a magnificent haul of 8 for 32 from 12.1 overs of accurate swing bowling. He used the conditions perfectly, keeping the ball up to the bat and admirably straight, clean bowling five of his victims and claiming two lbws.

Tavistock prepare for the visit of South Devon this week knowing a dramatic improvement is required if they are to present any form of challenge this year.