Another one from the archives 5th May 2012

The popular ‘One from the Archives’ feature returns by popular request with a report of the second XI’s opening League fixture in 2012:

Plymouth IV 55 all out Dartington & Totnes II 56 for 2

Dartington & Totnes (20 points) beat Plymouth (1 point) by 8 wickets.

Dartington & Totnes seconds made a cracking start to the League season  against a largely youthful Plymouth side.   Mick Rusling, ripped the heart out of the Plymouth batting line up in a devastating spell, taking 7 wickets for 6 runs in 13 overs.  Skipper Mike Jarvis fielded brilliantly and remarkably took 6 catches.  The batsmen then saw D&T home safely, if sedately, to clinch a comprehensive victory.

Jarvis won the toss and put Plymouth in to bat a on a damp, slow track.  David Griffiths and Mick Rusling opened the bowling.   Rusling, nursing a back injury,  struck with his first delivery when Jarvis caught Colmer at silly mid on and then struck again in his second over when the experienced Sewell lofted the ball between mid on and mid off.  Ted Waller, on debut, took ownership taking a fine catch, winding himself in the process.  From 4 for 2 Plymouth consolidated and with opener Joe Cunningham batting solidly there was no suggestion of the collapse which was to follow. Griffiths bowled very tightly conceding only 16 runs in 9 overs and Rusling did not even concede a run until his sixth over.  Cunningham showed rare aggressive intent with a straight driven six but runs were at a premium on a difficult track.  By the 16th over Plymouth had reached 24 when Rusling produced a peach of a delivery to bowl Cunningham for 18.  Jarvis took a fine low catch to dismiss Hagen-Burt (3) and 2 balls later keeper Paul Taylor smartly stumped Wood to give Rusling his fifth wicket.  He didn’t stop there though having Halford caught close in by Jarvis.

Another debutant, Gareth Havard, came into the attack and after a nervous start settled well taking the seventh wicket when Jarvis took an exceptional catch, diving forwards at mid off, to dismiss Haffenden for 14.  Rusling bowled Ali round his legs and his spell ended with Plymouth on 45 for 8.  Havard (2 for 23) had Callicott caught by Jarvis for 5 before Ben Hartridge finished things off when Jarvis  took his sixth catch of the innings.

D & T had 61 overs to score 56 runs and opted for a patient approach.  Darren Colegate and Paul Taylor opened the batting and like their Plymouth counterparts found run scoring difficult.   Both played patiently and sensibly and at tea D&T had reached 19 without loss off 15 overs.  Refreshed, the pair continued, and took the score to 34 before the iconic Colegate, after running a 2 and 3 in quick succession, seemed to run out of steam and was caught in the covers for 12.  Tom Petherick came to the crease and after playing a beautiful fine late cut was run out after a smart throw.  New man, Paul Raven (9 not out) and Taylor 23 not out, saw D&T home in 36 overs.

After the match Skipper Jarvis said “Mick’s bowling is like a fine wine- it gets better with age”.  Rusling replied modestly “I had two good lbw shouts turned down and if I’d been fully fit might have managed all ten wickets”.

 

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