Devon C

Ipplepen v Yelverton

YELVERTON narrowly lost an exciting encounter at third placed Ipplepen on Saturday.

Bohemian openers Rich Townsend and Mark Symes made steady progress despite the frequent blustery showers putting on 27 for the first wicket before Symes was lbw for 11 off the bowling of P Thomas. 

Townsend was out with the score on 37 in similar fashion this time off the bowling of S Bowden for 18.  Tom Watkins scored a quick 10 before drilling a catch to cover and at 41-3 Ipplepen were in the ascendency.

However, the fourth wicket pair of Ian Loze and Dave Scott added 38 until Scott was unluckily run out for 23 after he slipped turning for a second run on the greasy surface. 

Skipper Rich West added some impetus with a belligerent knock of 40 with Ian Loze (22), Pat Hobbs (33 not out) and Matt Tamsett (16 no) using the long handle to good effect to get the score up to a 196-8 off 44 overs. Paul Thomas (2-19), Steve Bowden (1-8) and Tom Dyer (3-25) took the bowling plaudits for the home side.

Yelverton struck early in the second over of the Ipplepen reply as opener J Lewis was run-out for nought.  Yelverton's James Harrison (16-5) bowled with pace and finding disconcerting bounce in the difficult conditions struck fives times in his opening spell to reduce Ipplepen to 46-6 after 13 overs. 

Two breaks for rain reduced the overs to 38 and a revised target of 171.  The batsmen slowly started to gain the initiative and seventh wicket Tom Dwyer and S Bowden added 56 before Bowden was lbw for 14 off the bowling of Geoff Brain. 

J Peach fell for 3 bowled by Pat Hobbs to leave Ipplepen on 122-8 with 7 overs left. Dwyer and P Thomas chipped away at the revised target and reached the final over with the total on 152 needing 20 to win before hitting the final two deliveries for six to see Ipplepen home on 175-8.