Devon Second XI B

Alphington v

Yelverton seconds

IN this mid-table clash Yelverton skipper Dave Scott lost the toss and his opposite number asked the visitors to bat

Openers Pete Garland and Ricky McDowell had an early scare when Garland was adjudged to have got a touch on a leg side delivery, but in a sporting gesture, was re-called by Alphington skipper Cousins who indicated to the umpire that the batsman had not made contact with the ball. 

After this reprieve, Garland and McDowell got their heads down and put on 61 for the first wicket, before Garland was well caught at slip off the bowling of Beasant for 19. 

As is often the case, one wicket often follows another and McDowell soon followed Garland back to the pavilion for a bright and breezy 33, caught at midwicket again off the bowling of Beasant. 

The new pair of Tim Berry and Gerry Keen got their heads down and ground out a partnership of 71 for the third wicket off the next 15 overs. 

The partnership was broken with score on 134, with Berry being bowled by T Bath. 

Skipper Scott joined Keen in the middle and the pair put on a partnership of 49 at a run-a-ball to take the score onto 183 before Scott was bowled by Knight for 17. 

With seven overs left Yelverton looked to push-on and contributions from all down the order took the score onto a challenging 233-8. 

Man of the match Keen was sixth out after contributing a top score of 61 for the Bohemians, with 39 extras contributing to the final total.

Following an excellent tea, Alphington set about chasing down 234 to win.  Their reply had an immediate set-back, when opener Hare was bowled by Matt Tamsett for four. 

Remaining opener Cousins and new batsman Hussain were initially circumspect but grew in confidence with Hussain in particular being the main aggressor.  Hussain made 36 at a run-a-ball before he was lbw to Chris Pearson with the score on 84 off 19 overs. 

Cousins and new batsman Rowe kept the score ticking along with a partnership of 44 for the third wicket. 

With the score on 128 and 106 required off 17 overs a close finish was in prospect, but then Cousins was trapped lbw for 59 by veteran slow bowler Andy Taylor. 

This wicket proved to be a key one as the run-rate slowed with Taylor wheeling away in tandem with Jerry Warland.  Warland picked up the wickets of Bath and Rowe in his figures of 2 - 29 off eight overs. 

With the score on 186-5 off 41 overs, an Alphington win was still a possibility and skipper Scott turned to veteran seamers Tony Carter and Chris Pearson as his 'death' bowlers. 

Almost immediately Carter had Bright caught at cover by Pete Garland following a bright and breezy 24.  Carter (2-38 off 10) then bowled Beasant for 26 with the score on 192-7. 

With Pearson bowling tightly at the other end, Alphington called off the chase and negotiated the last three overs safely, closing on 205-7. 

This was a terrific game of cricket played in a sporting spirit.