TAVISTOCK pulled off the shock of the day in the Tolchards DCL Premier Division when they trounced Exeter by 152 runs at the Ring.

No one had more than Exeter’s 10 league victories going into the game, or a winning run stretching back seven games. Without a 60-point penalty for a registration error, they would have been top of the table.

Tavistock have not been out of the bottom four over the past 10 rounds are in the latter stages of fighting to preserve the Premier status they regained this season.

Turning Exeter over was a major boost to Tavistock’s prospects of staying up. They are now 22-point clear of the relegation places … and out of the bottom four!

As Sidmouth, Hatherleigh and Plymouth – the three teams below Tavistock all won – the consequence of losing would have been more relegation worries.

Will Scott-Munden – in and out for three – was the only one of Tavistock’s top seven to miss out with the bat in a total of 214 for nine.

Openers Elliot Hamilton (27) and Charlie Barriball (22) made early runs, Joshua Dorne (24), Rhys Davies (25) and Billy Barriball (46) kept the board ticking over and Harry Witcher (38) ensured there was no flagging in the last 10 overs.

Josh Nott was the only one of Exeter’s eight bowlers not to take a wicket. Tom Simmons (2-26) and Will Furniss (1-20) both got through seven cheap overs.

Exeter were spun out for 62 in just 17 overs by Tavistock left armers Elliot Hamilton (5-28) and Tom Clarke (4-9).

None of Exeter’s top seven got as far as 20 – Oli Gribble’s 19 was as good as got – and five of them failed to get off the mark.

Sean Cleave, the Tavistock captain, said: “A great effort from everyone involved and, looking at the results elsewhere, a really important win for us

“Billy and Harry batted really well towards the end to make sure we had a total to bowl at, before Tom and Elliot, who have both been incredible this season, did the damage with the ball.

“Tom and Elliot were relentless throughout, and Elliot fully deserved to pick up his five wickets and the match ball.”