Devon seconds B

Tavistock seconds v Kingsbridge seconds

ON Saturday, Tavistock welcomed fellow ’B’ division strugglers Kingsbridge to the Ring, knowing anything other than a win would all but end their chances of survival.

Standing in for the absent Andy Gauler, Phil Bees won the toss and decided to get first use of the pitch. Tavistock openers Marc Webber and Phil Bees got off to a good start with the runs flowing steadily; with good running between the wickets, the pair managed to put on 109 for the first wicket off of 19 overs before Webber (44) was caught at long off and number three Will Scott-Munden followed quickly after.

Bees and Sam Willetts (26) kept the score ticking until the former was bowled for 38. A flurry of wickets followed but a few small contributions from the lower order and the Kingsbridge bowlers (59 extras) helped Tavistock to a under par total of 182 all out. 

Tavistock knew that ten wickets on a flat pitch to win the game and had the start they wanted when Ben Evans snapped up a smart chance at cover off the bowling of Jacob Staig. The bowling was tight but runs still seemed to be flowing at an alarming rate.

Tavistock were just as generous as the Kingsbridge bowlers by giving away 40 wides.

The home side had the feeling that it was not going to be their day when Sam Willetts managed to get the dangerous John Hardy to play one onto his own stumps, only to find the bails reluctant to budge.

Kingsbridge number three James Ellis and John Hardy continued to keep the board ticking until Jacob Staig picked up his second wicket trapping Hardy lbw.

John Proctor got into the action at the other end, having the number four Ed Church sharply caught behind. This brought Kingsbridge skipper Mark Edmunds to the crease and with some clever batting and running, they took the score to 108-2.

Will Scott-Munden got Tavistock a much needed breakthrough, by trapping James Ellis (56) lbw.

Harrison Gregory (13) added some more before being caught at mid wicket by Isaac Staig and the next over Will Scott-Munden ran out Mike Perkins, who had not faced a ball.

Tavistock were running out of runs to play with and bowlers to use before Sam Willetts removed Edmunds (25) giving them a small glimmer of hope. However, at 174-7, needing nine to win, Tavistock still needed three wickets and were staring relegation in the face. Phil Bees brought himself into the attack and a no-ball turned out to be very helpful as a mix up in the middle allowed Sam Willetts a shy at the stumps and a direct hit put Kingsbridge eight wickets down.

Jacob Staig picked up his third wicket with the last ball of his spell bowling Ben Taylor with a fantastic delivery that nipped back in and finishing with superb figures of 3-29.

With Kingsbridge just needing three runs to win on the last ball of the over, Phil Bees stepped up and a straight ball that nipped back, cannoned into middle stump and meant Tavistock won by three runs.

The victory saw pandemonium from the Tavistock players on the square, hugs and high fives all around and victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat and Tavistock’s great escape is still achievable.

Devon B

Shobrook v

Tavistock firsts

TAVISTOCK visited Shobrook Park on Saturday hoping to build on their three consecutive wins.

Batting first, Shobrook lost two early wickets but number three Chris Simpson took the attack to Tavistock and made an impressive 89.

With useful contributions from Budricks and Robbins, the score board ticked over and 220-9 was a fair score for the home team. James McGahey, yet again, was the pick of the Tavistock bowlers with 4-26 in his eight overs. Captain Shaun Daymond, with 3-49, backed up his strike bowler. Tavistock’s reply was steady. Ball and Grey departed but young James White and Dave Manning gradually built the score. Manning made 56 and at 131-2 Tavistock were well placed. However, within five runs both had gone, as well as Daymond who collided with Churchill. Churchill made 24 but wickets kept falling and the visitors ended with a disappointing 192 all out, with Budricks and Simpson each taking four wickets.