Plymouth IV 55 all out Dartington & Totnes II 56 for 2
Dartington & Totnes (20 points) beat Plymouth (1 point) by 8 wickets.
The 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.
Jarvs won the toss and put Plymouth in to bat a on a damp, slow track. David Griffiths and Mick opened the bowling. Mick asked Jarvs for a fielder close in on the leg side. Jarvs put himself at silly mid on and Colmer hit Mick’s first ball straight to Jarvs, much to Mick’s delight. Mick 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. Dave bowled very tightly conceding only 16 runs in 9 overs and Mick did not even concede a run until his sixth over. the conditions were ideally suited to Mick’s slow inswingers. 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 Mick produced a peach of a delivery to bowl Cunningham for 18. Jarvs took a fine low catch to dismiss Hagen-Burt (3) and 2 balls later keeper Paul Taylor smartly stumped Wood to give Mick his fifth wicket. By now Mick was pinching himself to check if he was dreaming. When Jarvs caught Halford close in Mick had bagged all the first 6 wickets and he was wondering when one of the other bowlers would come to the party.
Another debutant, Gareth Havard, came into the attack and, after a nervous start, settled well taking the seventh wicket when Jarvs 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. Gareth (2 for 23) had Callicott caught by Jarvs for 5 before Ben Hartridge (1 for 1), finished things off when Jarvs 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, semed 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 Mick was full of praise for Jarvos captaincy and fielding. The ‘ love in’ continued as Skipper Jarvis said “Mick’s bowling is like a fine wine- it gets better with his 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”. Mick gave his team mates a vote of confidence saying “I wasn’t sure about our batting and thought I’d better get them out as quick as I could”.
Mick said he wished he’d bought a Lottery ticket! He said he’d been around long enough to know that next week he might have figures of 0 for 50 so wouldn’t be getting too carried away.