Dartington & Totnes II 153 for 5 Paignton III 98 all out D&T (18 points) beat Paignton (2 points) by 55 runs
Will Gornall starred with bat and ball to inspire Dartington & Totnes to victory. Gornall hit 30 rapid and much needed runs after D&T’s early batsmen had got them off to a sluggish start. He then took 6 for 28, pegging Paignton back, after it looked like they might run away with the match.
After another week of heavy rain both sides were grateful for the opportunity to play. Playing the match was only possible because Paignton use an astroturf track – an anathema to most cricketers. Paignton won the toss and inserted D&T who were fielding their strongest side so far this season. Skipper Mike Jarvis, mindful of the previous week’s batting collapse, chose David Carter to open the batting with him. Carter, a fine cricketer, is renowned for his excellent defensive technique- but not for fluent scoring. Unaccustomed to a bouncy track, both men found run scoring difficult as Paignton’s opening bowlers exploited the pitch well. When the batsmen did get the ball off the square the slow outfield didn’t help matters.
Jarvis began to get into his stride and accumulate runs whilst Carter blocked up the other end. When Jarvis was caught at slip for 16, in the fifteenth over, D&T had reached 28 with Carter’s contribution being 2. Paul Taylor soon got on with things and overtook Carter. However, with the introduction of Castleton into the attack, Carter had a rush of blood and struck three boundaries, before finally being caught off Slough for 22 in the 28th over.
Gavin Colegate had been subject to transfer speculation all week and this was to be his final appearance before a mid-season transfer to Cockington. D&T were hoping he would score fifty and change his mind and he started like he meant business hitting a fine straight six. Taylor went for 12 when he holed out to long on, off young spinner, Ward. Colegate (11) was out in the same over, caught at long on. This brought Gornall and Christian Buckner together, with D&T needing to accelerate the scoring . The pair did not disappoint and batted very well, putting on 43 in nine overs. Before the match there had been some banter about whether anyone could hit the ball onto the roof of a gazebo, on the edge of the pitch. Gornall’s two sixes included one which landed on the roof of the gazebo- much to his team mate’s delight. He was given out caught behind for 30. Gareth Havard then hit a cameo 10 not out, including a four off the final delivery to secure an additional batting point, with Buckner finishing on 15 not out.
Paignton opening batsman Luck did not live up to his name as Havard caught him off Mick Rusling’s third delivery. Rusling was also out of luck as new man Ashworth, batting with a runner, unleashed a blistering barrage of shots and blasted him out of the attack after only 4 overs. We had taken 23 overs to reach fifty. In contrast to our sedate start Paignton reached 50 after only 9 overs, with Ashworth threatening to win the game single handedly. Gornall was bowling well but Ashworth (30 ) hit him for a flat six over cover before Gornall yorked him with a peach of a delivery, much to D&T’s relief. None of the remaining batsmen could match Ashworth and the run rate dropped. Gornall , bowling with considerable skill and variation, began to run through the Paignton batting like a laxative. Carter, bowling from the other end worked up a blistering pace and repeatedly beat the bat of opener Blundell who led a charmed life. Carter( 2 for 20) eventally picked up the wickets he deserved. Gornall bowled Blundell for 16 and picked up his sixth wicket when Havard took a wonderful catch in the covers to dismiss Slough. Richard Sugden polished things off for D&T, bowling Ward.