Devon B

Tavistock firsts v Abbotskerswell

TAVISTOCK continued their winning run on Saturday when they hosted Abbotskerwell to the Ring. The away side won the toss and decided to field.

Home openers, Billy Barriball and James White put on 34 for the first wicket before White was clean bowled by Thomas Kelly (1-44) for 13. Abbotskerswell had their second soon after when Conor Adams (3-44) dismissed Tavistock’s captain for 3. Elliot Adams (3-52) then got rid of Barriball for 28 and he had his second of the day soon after when he trapped Churchill lbw for 2. The home side had lost four wickets for 30 runs and were struggling at 64-4.

Dave Manning and Charlie Barriball, though, rebuilt for the home side. Manning and Barriball took the score past 100 but Manning fell for 17, with Conor Adams securiing his third wicket of the day.

Noah Tobias (1-52) removed Dylan Aucamp for 2 and the home team were in need of a partnership. Rob Milligan joined Charlie at the crease and the pair put on 36 with Charlie Barriball going past 50 for the second week running. He was eventually out for 73 from 55 balls but he had got his side up to 174-4.

Sean Cleave joined Milligan but their partnership did not last long with Milligan being bowled for 14. Cleave played a superb innings, hitting 41 not out from 37 balls in a partnership worth 47 with James McGahey, getting his side up to 230 from their 45 overs.

Abbotskerswell got off to a slow start in their run chase, losing opener Elliot Adams early to Aucamp (2-28).

Charles Mitchell and Thomas Keily began to rebuild but Tavistock were able to break the partnership with Charlie Barriball removing Mitchell for 13. Jimmy Fulner joined Keily at the crease with the score 47-2 and the pair were batting fluently.

Captain, Shaun Daymond took the wicket his side needed, bowling Fulner lbw for 27 from just 21 balls.

Abbotskerswell kept starting partnerships but could not build anything substantial with the home side continuing to pick up wickets. Sean Cleave took the important wicket off Keily for 50 and the away side were 107-4, still very much in the game.

Tavistock picked up wickets at frequent intervals with only Richard Acton getting a substantial score in the middle order for the away team. Billy Barriball (3-24) and Sean Cleave (3-29) bowled superbly and made light work of the middle order and although Acton had gone to his half century, he was running out of partners. Acton was the ninth man out for 54 when Billy Barriball got him caught behind and the result was all but sealed. Aucamp came back into the attack and picked up his second and last wicket of the day as Abbotskerswell were bowled out for 204.

Tavistock’s victory means they picked up 20 points again and are now in the promotion places in the division, just four points behind Ipplepen.

Tavistock will be looking to top the table at the halfway point and continue their excellent form into the second half of the season.