Devon B

Shobrooke v Tavistock firsts

TAVISTOCK firsts extended their unbeaten run to six games after winning a thriller away to Shobrooke Park on Saturday.

Captain Shaun Daymond won the toss and decided to have a bowl on a pitch that was still damp from the rain in the week. His decision looked to be a good one when Shoebrooke’s Dylan Aucamp removed John James first ball of the game when he gloved the ball down the leg side.

Dan Maytum and Chris Simpson put on 85 for the second wicket with the pair riding their luck at times. Sean Cleave got his side the much- needed breakthrough when he got Simpson caught at deep square leg for 34.

Shaun Daymond then removed Maytum in the next over for 28 and the home side were 89-3 after 20 overs.

With the ball gripping in the pitch Tavistock’s spinners were able to pick up wickets throughout the middle period of the game. Richard Pyle had partnerships with Craig James and Andrew Codling but both batsmen could not capitalise on their starts and were out for 21 and 23 respectively. Dan Robbins came in at number eight for Shobrooke and was the perfect foil for Pyle who was playing the anchor role. He smashed 40 in seven overs to get his side up to a respectable 248-8 from their 45 overs, with Pyle unbeaten at the end on 45.

Tavistock would have backed themselves to get the runs with a short boundary on one side and the pitch beginning to flatten out in the afternoon sun. Openers Billy Barriball and Aaron Churchill set the tone at the top of the order and put on 104 for the first wicket.

Churchill was eventually the first man to go for an excellent 45 when he got a thick outside edge of the bowling of John James that went to point.

Shobrooke needed inspiration and that’s just what Dan Robbins gave them. He took three wickets in five overs, including set batsman Billy Barriball for a superb 53 to open the game up.

Tavistock were now 137-4 and needed a partnership. Dave Manning and Dylan Aucamp built the partnership that the away side desperately needed but their partnership was broken and it was Robbins again, he got Manning caught and bowled for 22. Aucamp was then removed in a similar fashion, looking to drive and the ball kicking up and going straight in the air, this time the wicket-keeper taking the catch.

At 189-7 Tavistock needed a partnership and got it with Daymond and Andy Gawler, the away side needed a run a ball in the last 10 overs and with the field spread the pair were able to settle and keep the score ticking. They looked like they were going to see their side home Shobrooke would not lie down. Daymond was removed for a brilliant 25 with his side needing another 31 runs to win the game. Gawler fell soon after for 21, clipping the ball off his pads straight to midwicket.

Tavistock were 233-9 in the 43rd over needing 16 off the last two overs. Cleave and David Milligan ran everything and a boundary in the penultimate over meant the visitors needed five from the last over. Cleave and Milligan were able to get bat on ball and run and the scores were level with one ball remaining. With the field up Cleave went hard at the final delivery of this incredible game and the ball split mid-on and mid-wicket and flew to the boundary.

Tavistock remain second in the B division at the midpoint of the season.