B Division

Ipplepen v Tavistock

TAVISTOCK travelled to league leaders Ipplepen looking to close the gap on the top four sides and continue their push for promotion.

The away side won the toss and decided to field on a beautiful day. James McGahey and Dylan Aucamp took the new ball for Tavistock and kept the home side’s run rate to a minimum.

Aucamp got the early breakthrough for Tavistock when he clean bowled Jack Lewis for 11. The away side kept the scoring low but struggled to pick up wickets early in the innings.

David Milligan got the second wicket for Tavy when Aaron Churchill took a blinding catch at mid-on to remove David Harris for 18. Sam DeFriend was then bowled by Charlie Barriball (3-26) and the home side were 72-3.

With the run rate just above three runs an over, the pressure was building on Ipplepen’s batsman to up their scoring and give their bowlers something to defend. Their more aggressive approach meant there would be chances in the field for Tavistock, they just had to take them.

Adam Peters and Jack Wylie both fell for 17, falling to Sean Cleave and Shaun Daymond respectively. Ipplepen’s captain Sam Wakeham was able to put the pressure back on the Tavistock bowlers though.

He smashed 66 from 38 balls but was eventually out LBW to James McGahey. Fortunately for the travelling team the runs were only coming from one end and once his wicket fell, Charlie Barriball skittled out the tail and a run out in the final over meant the home side posted 210 from 44.4 overs.

Tavistock’s run chase got off to a flying start with Billy Barriball and Ian Gray taking 19 runs from the first two overs. The pair were in cruise control and strolled to 50 within the first ten overs.

Gray was eventually caught behind off the bowling of Paul Thomas for 34. Shaun Daymond was bowled by Will Gornall for three shortly after, leaving Tavistock 78-2 with the home side beginning to claw back the run rate.

Billy Barriball and Dave Manning were rebuilding for the away team but Manning was deemed to be out LBW for 28 although he felt he had hit the ball. Tempers began to flair and when Gornall picked up his second, removing Churchill for three, the home side began to believe with Tavy now 137-4.

Billy Barriball was still holding his own and went to his second half century of the season, just when his team needed it. He was now joined by his younger brother Charlie and the naturally aggressive pair took the fight back to the home side.

Billy was eventually out for a brilliant 68 when he was caught at cover off the bowling of Joe Abbott. Charlie didn’t let the loss of his brother affect him and he began to take the game away from the hosts.

He cruised his way past 50 with Aucamp acting as the perfect foil for Charlie’s aggression. Charlie topped an outstanding all round performance by guiding his team to a five wicket win over the league leaders with five overs to spare. He finished unbeaten on 57 whilst Aucamp was nine not out.

Tavistock remain fourth in the B Division but there is only eight points between the top four teams.

Next week Tavistock welcome Abbotskerswell and they will be hoping to continue their unbeaten home record this season.

Tavistock could be without their leading run scorer, Dave Manning if the league decides to punish him for his reaction to being given out.