Devon B

Shoebrooke v Tavistock

IN the final game of the season, Tavistock travelled to Shobrooke Park needing a big win and results to go their way else where to have any chance of promotion.

Having won the toss Tavistock decided that they would declare after 40 overs whatever in an attempt to gain two bonus points. This was a high risk strategy against a team who scored 319-0 the previous week.

The innings did not start well with Churchill out lbw. The usually reliable Pope creamed a cover drive but was caught acrobatically.

This bought Dave Manning to the crease needing 51 to reach 800 runs for the season. He and Ian Gray were busy in building a partnership of 117. Bad balls were dispatched and lots of singles taken. Manning was out for 52, having reached the 800 runs, a total that stands him out as being by far the highest English born run scorer in the division.

Wickets continued to fall in an attempt to set a challenging total off 40 overs. Cleave added 20, but it was opener Gray, who carried his bat for the second time this season, who with 128 allowed Tavistock to set 266.

Bowling and fielding disciplines by Tavistock have been impressive in the second half of the season and again Travis Muller with four more wickets, to take his season's total to 40, and James McGahey two wickets tore into the Shobrooke batting line-up. They had no answer to the pace and control of the quickies. Sean Cleave again spun the ball big in claiming three wickets.

Shobrooke were all out for just 79 runs in 21 overs. Tavistock 22 points beat Shobrooke Park by 187 runs.

President Stuart Munday, on behalf of Tavistock Cricket Club, congratulated Lewdown Cricket Club on their promotion following a fine season.

Having finished third from bottom last season, third from top this season for Tavistock represents a very impressive season and reward for all the hard work the players and back room support have put in. With a very young and hungry team, the future is bright for the club,