Devon B

Tavistock v Ivybridge

IN a must win game, spirits were high and after a quality and motivating warm up in the baking sun, Tavistock took the field against third placed Ivybridge.

Tavistock's Travis Muller from South Africa dismissed an opener for a duck, but fellow opener Johnson 39 and number three Zimmerman batted sensibly helped by the wides, no balls and poor deliveries. After 15 overs Ivybridge were on 80-1. A tactical change saw spinners Sean Cleave, Jamie Stephens and Tim Pope enter the attack and they proceeded to squeeze the game, conceding less than four an over throughout their 23 overs with five wickets taken.

Ivybridge's overseas star De-Silva was still at the crease and batting sensibly and in the last eight overs he added 70 runs. 32 wides and the runs scored from the additional balls contributed to their total of 216-8.

A steady start was required, but it was not to be. Churchill caught behind without scoring, Gray with a marginal lbw for one, Devon star Rhys Davies 3, caught behind, and form man Tim Pope another lbw for 4, left the home side on 19-4.

Enter captain Manning who soon sent the ball fizzing to the boundary. Partnerships with Cleave, Muller and Stephens worked the home side into a position where they needed less than four an over with four wickets remaining.

Another lbw saw Josh Stephens depart. Manning took the opportunity to reach his century and before he had chance to really open his shoulder the last three wickets fell, leaving Tavistock 40 runs short.