Dartington & Totnes’ first and second XIs both won on Saturday. The second eleven were at home to Plympton and at 26 for 5 after fifteen overs things were looking decidedly bleak. Man of the match Scott Colegate came to the rescue scoring 113 not out in a fine innings containing 5 sixes and 11 fours. Batting with his brother, Glenn, the pair added 113 for the sixth wicket. Glenn was a perfect foil for his brother batting solidly and getting Scott plenty of the strike. Gradually the score began to edge upwards as the pair played calmly and sensibly. Scott is a quality player and showed a fine temperament and began to unleash some terrific shots, with the Plympton fielders conceding defeat and not even attempting to look for the ball.
Todd Rossouw had caused the damage for Plympton, taking 4 for 1 in his first 7 overs. He eventually finished with 5 for 4 after having Glenn Colegate caught behind down the leg side for 16. After Glenn’s demise Scott managed to nurse the score to a competitive 184 for 7, with Pete Glen finishing on 9 not out.
Plympton needed to score at about four an over to win and got off to a much brisker start than the home side had done, taking advantage of some fortunate edges. Nick Dennis was particularly unlucky in his opening spell. Dave Griffiths drew first blood for D&T when he caught and bowled Plympton skipper Tim George for 13. New man Rossouw showed he could bat as well as bowl and any wayward delivery was severely punished.
Mick Rusling relieved Griffiths and struck in his second over, bowling opener Borbon for 11. Rusling has been having lean season by his standards but was back to his best moving the ball both ways and getting the ball to jump around. He soon found Rossouw’s outside edge but the slip chance wasn’t held. Glen’s first spell was somewhat wayward but when he bowled Jones for 5, Plympton were 75 for 3 and well up with the run rate. Rusling (2 for 14) took the crucial wicket of Rossouw (48), inducing him to chip the ball to Glenn Colegate at short cover.
Despite suffering from tendonitis Scott Colegate came on and bowled a fine spell taking 2 for 16 before conceding defeat. The run rate slowed markedly with Griffiths (2 for 35) picking up a second wicket when that man Scott took a one-handed slip catch. Andy Bligh bowled a good economical seven over spell, as D&T turned the screw. Nick Dennis thought he had had one batsman caught behind twice but the umpire somewhat apologetically said he had not heard anything. Glen came back and took two wickets in one over, bowling the obdurate Lee Cooper for 38 and having Draper well caught by Cliff Lowe after skying the ball ‘miles high’. Plympton needed 36 to win off the final over and ended up falling short by 30 runs in a game which had had a remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
D&T’s first team were set 201 to win at Ipplepen and at 19 for 4 they also seemed to be out of the match. D&T were indebted to Ryan Stevenson with 84 and Will Gornall with 37 not out. Overs were not an issue but wickets kept tumbling. Last man, Josh Thomas, held his nerve as others had lost theirs to help D&T scrape home by 1 wicket with three overs to spare.