TAVISTOCK took a huge stride towards premier division cricket on Saturday, with a resounding win over Plymstock at Dean Cross. Other results have combined to leave Tavistock 26 points clear of Sidmouth in second and 47 points ahead of Bradninch in third with only five games to go. Plymstock won the toss and decided to bowl on a wet and grassy track. Their regular openers were both missing, so young James Burke and Australian change bowler Alan Singer shared the new ball. Initially both did well, particularly 14-year-old Burke, and only three runs came in the first four overs, but it was a case of the calm before the storm. Arnie Searle moved effortlessly, throwing the gears on his way to his fourth 100 of the season. When Steve Knight replaced Singer the first signs of his onslaught appeared and Knight was removed after two overs cost 26 runs. Chris Cashell was no sleeping partner either and was scoring freely all around the wicket with a couple of fours off his leg looking particularly impressive. Alex Barnicott replaced Knight and Cashell lobbed him into the car park, while Searle preferred to hit him straight or over mid on as the pair upped the tempo. The century stand came and went as did 150, but to their credit Plymstock kept their enthusiasm and competed as hard as they could. Cashell reached 50, Searle had passed that milestone earlier and crashed his way towards an inevitable 100. Searle was caught on the fence by Burke off Orchard?s bowling. He made 139 with 13 fours and 6 sixes. Kevin Willcock if anything increased the pressure on the bowlers with a delightful cameo which took Tavistock past 300. Dave Manning was caught with the total on 313. Tavistock declared at the end of the 47th over at 307 for 3. Willcock was 56 not out off 30 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes, having scored 22 off his last over. Willcock then took the new ball and with great support from skipper Steve Nicholson, set about the Plymstock batting. He bowled Steve Knight with a viciously seaming delivery and reduced Plymstock to 29 for 2, when he repeated the trick on Burke. James Horgan and Julian Brailey then mounted a 52 run stand. Brailey fell lbw to Gauler and started a collapse which decided the game. During his stay things looked reasonably secure but when he went for 14 the whole innings collapsed. Andy Kaitiff was the man to take advantage of Plymstock?s fragile middle order. He had Orchard neatly snapped up by Luffman for two. Then, with the score on 89, Plymstock lost three wickets. Ian Whalley made a couple of lusty blows before Kaitiff bowled him for 10 and three balls later bowled Bob Heath for a duck. Finally Kaitiff caught and bowled Danny Wood who had struck a defiant 24 runs to wrap up the win and gain 20 points for Tavistock. Plymstock scraped to 125 and therefore claimed 3 points which sees them drop into the relegation zone. This week Tavistock welcome Bovey Tracey to the Ring.
