Dartington & Totnes II 205 for 8, Chagford II 199 for 8
Dartington & Totnes 15 points, Chagford 10 points
Dartington & Totnes narrowly came out on top in a thrilling game which went right down to the wire. At the start of the final over Chagford needed eleven to win and all four results were possible but Chagford’s skipper Dave Penberthy was unable to get David Carter’s bowling away, as Chagford were forced to settle for a ‘losing draw’.
Chagford’s ground, overlooked by two tors, looked resplendent in hot sunshine as they won the toss and inserted their visitors. Despite an excellent batting track D&Ts openers struggled to score against accurate opening bowling from Pitt-Tucker and the veteran Ken Moss. D&T had been forced to make 5 changes from the previous week and top batsman Mike Jarvis was restored to his customary opening position.
It looked ominous for D&T when Jarvis (8) was caught at mid on off Pitt-Tucker in the fifth over. However, Liam Bligh, going from strength to strength this season, put on 86 for the second wicket with Carter in 23 overs. Carter played his effective anchor role and Bligh was the more aggressive playing some stylish shots. Both found it difficult to find the gaps until they became more established and gradually upped the tempo. The miserly Moss bowled thirteen straight overs for 34 runs but remained wicketless. The second wicket did not fall until Chagford’s fifth bowler, Steve Sizmur, came into the attack. Sizmur (4 for 44) made an immediate impact taking wickets in each of his first three overs. First Carter was caught at mid off for a valuable 21 and then Bligh, having reached his fifty, was caught and bowled for 54. Paul Taylor then holed out for 10 as D&T went from 96 for 1 to 116 for 4.
Tom Petherick was in cracking form and accelerated the run rate with some fine shots, particularly between mid-wicket and long-on. Petherick and Darren Colegate put on 63 in eight overs for the fifth wicket with Colegate’s contribution being just 7. Colegate was run out after running out of steam and Petherick took the score to 192 before being caught of Blijnath for 56. Cliff Lowe and Charlie Life soon followed but under 15 player, Jack Johansen (5 not out) on his senior debut, took the score past 200.
Ollie Perkins bowled a good opening spell for D&T and played a part in the first dismissal after a sharp piece of fielding by Petherick in the covers led to Perkins breaking the bails to run out Filor for 7 in the tenth over. Mick Rusling, bowled a thirteen over spell but had to wait until his ninth over before having Ramsden, caught behind for 7. Chagford were pegged back by accurate bowling and had only reached 67 by the 25th over when opener Holland became Rusling’s second victim (2 for 23) when Jarvis, at silly mid-on, swooped like a hawk to take a fine low catch. Carter bowled Niven for 16 and then bowled Sizmur to put Chagford on 77 for 5 with 18 overs remaining. D&T were in the driving seat at this point. They were thwarted by a fine sixth wicket stand of 102 between Penberthy and Baker who looked like they might win the match for Chagford. The stand was finally broken by spinner Petherick who had Baker caught at mid-on by Carter for 47. Jarvis took two catches off Carter’s bowling off no-balls as Carter strived to force the victory. Chagford were inching closer and whilst Penberthy remained they retained hope of victory. D &T bounced back when Petherick (2 for 50) had Blijnath stumped by Taylor for 9 and then Pitt-Tucker was run out in the penultimate over. D&T needed two wickets from the final over and Chagford needed 11 runs. Carter bowled a fierce final over to Penberthy(44 not out) -the first five deliveries were dot balls and though the last one went to the boundary it was too late.