Devon B

Tavistock v Alphington

WITH rain throughout the county, a bit of good fortune and a lot of good cricket was needed as Tavistock entertained Alphington at The Ring.

Having won the toss the visitors asked to bat first. The ever improving Chris Hutchins soon found his range in removing two early wickets and was supported by Travis Muller in bowling their overseas opener.

On a wicket offering assistance to the seamers early on, James McGahey bowled some good deliveries without reward and it was Sean Cleave who again made a difference with three wickets.

Hutchins bowled his eight overs through and was rewarded with fine figures of 4-20. At 69-9 Alphington were in trouble but their senior players dug in and aided by some poor bowling posted 131 all out.

Following the fine win and run chase the previous week, confidence was high. However, the home team soon found themselves in trouble — Ian Gay, Rhys Davies and Shaun Daymond all lost their wickets without scoring.

The drying pitch suited Alphington's good spinners who took seven wickets between them.

Tavistock needed a steadying influence, and once again it was Dave Manning who took the responsibility. Starting slowly, he built an innings that was not without risk with the spinners bowling good balls that beat his edge. He did not let this deter him and was always on the look for the bad ball or opportunity to rotate the strike.

Wickets kept falling and eventually number 11 Chris Hutchins joined Manning with six still needed for victory.

The next three overs were 'torture' for the home side, but gradually the pair crept over the line.

Tavistock are very much in the promotion race and if they can keep winning they have a chance with two big games to come — away versus Stoke Gabriel and Chudleigh.