Plympton III 131 all out Dartington & Totnes II 136 for 9
Dartington & Totnes won by 1 wicket.
Replying to Plympton’s modest total the seconds looked dead and buried on 78 for 8 when skipper Kevan Throgmorton came to the crease, playing with an injured back. In a thrilling finish Throgmorton smashed a brilliant 44 not out to secure a most unlikely victory, with an over to spare. Earlier Angus Wilson had destroyed Plympton’s batsmen in a devastating spell, taking 6 for 18.
After being asked to bat Plympton were never able to get on top of the bowlers. New father David Carter opened the bowling with Mick Rusling- bowlers as different as chalk and cheese. Carter steamed in down the slope whilst Rusling twirled away uphill obtaining prodigious swing with the new ball- at least until his third over when a short delivery went over the boundary and was lost and the ball was replaced. Plympton’s openers Coleman and Mortimer made a solid if sedate start before Carter struck when Glyn Oakey took a good catch to dismiss Coleman. Oakey replaced Carter and soon bagged Mortimer who played on for 21. At the other end Rusling bowled 13 straight overs, regularly beating the batsmen, but success eluded him until his final over when Dawe (17), who had already been dropped off the same bowler was well caught..
Angus Wilson came on and was soon enjoying remarkable success. He bowled Raven, Richards, Hawker and Khan, had Coad caught at slip for 22 and caught and bowled Ransome in seven remarkable overs as Plympton slumped from 84 for 3 to 131 all out. Oakey (2 for 11) mopped up the last man. With a strong batting line up D&T were confident at tea, despite the slow wicket.
Plympton got off to a good start as Malcolm Coleman gloved a rising delivery off Khan to the keeper. Cliff Lowe, playing well despite a bad back, consolidated with Carter but the introduction of slower bowlers caused D&T problems. The batsmen struggled against Hyatt (3 for 22) and Mortimer (3 for 23). Hyatt bowled Lowe for 17, Oakey (10) was stumped off Mortimer, bowling hero Wilson mistimed a hook and was caught at backward square leg as wickets tumbled. Mortimer bowled Carter for 20. Simon Heyes frustrated at being tied down was stumped. Chris Life was unlucky to be given lbw. Dan Goord, who had earlier bowled a good spell, was caught behind. D&T were relieved when Mortimer’s 14 over spell ended but his replacement, Hawker, was equally miserly.
News came in that England had just scored against the USA and at that point a Plympton victory seemed as certain as England beating the USA. Throgmorton , batting at number 10, joined Dave Binmore who was batting sensibly . The equation was simple- 52 were needed with eleven overs left. The pair accumulated runs steadily but 30 were still needed with 5 overs remaining. Throgmorton upped the pace and began spanking the ball around. The pair had added 40 when calamity struck- Hawker bowled Binmore for a valuable 14, bringing last man Rusling to the crease with 14 still needed and Hawker steaming in. Rusling surprised himself by driving him for 4 and blocking the rest of the over, leaving D&T with 10 runs needed from 2 overs and Throgmorton on strike. Throgmorton smashed 14 off the over finishing the game off in fine style with a huge six off the final ball to the delight of his team mates.