TAVISTOCK suffered a second successive defeat in the Tolchards DCL A Division when they lost a rain-hit game against Abbotskerswell by five wickets.
Veteran batsman Steve Luffman, brought back from 2nd XI cricket to plug a gap in Tavistock’s early order, jointly top-scored on 44 in an all-out total if 133. Dead level with Luffman were the 44 extras Abbotskerswell chucked down.
Toby Hard, only 16 and already a 1st XI regular in the Abbotskerswell side, spun his way to bowling figures of four for 30. Par Singh and Nick Watkin had two wickets each.
Abbots’ batting has looked frail at times this season, but there were runs at the top of the order for Ed Smout-Cooper (25) and Tom Heath as the chase got underway.
The running total was 94 for five when rain stopped play, which was enough to give Abbots a win under the Duckworth-Lewis System.
Victory, their first of the season, moved Abbots (33pts) off the bottom of the table, where Plymstock (30) have taken up residence.
Tavi 2nd XI were also in action, losing by the skin of their teeth to Teignmouth & Shaldon in the E Division West.
A depleted Tavistock, who coaxed some old boys out of retirement to get a side out, made 226 for eight in a full 45-over game.
T&S reached the final over needing 15 to win – and got down to the final ball from Albert Manning four runs short… a classic club cricket ending!
Khaya Legodi scoring two runs off of the final ball wasn’t enough, only for the square-leg umpire to call a ‘no-ball’ on height grounds.
Legodi – dad Tshepo used to play for Tavistock – and David Piper scampered the run they needed to clinch a dramatic win from this free hit.
Marc Webber, the Tavistock captain, said the result was “A tough one to take” but added there was more to the outcome than one umpiring decision.
“I could have done things differently, maybe save an over or two from certain bowlers until the end,” said Webber, going on to highlight that Hindsight is a wonderful thing!”
Elsewhere, opener Ricky Hopwood stroked an unbeaten 55 to steer Chagford to an eight-wicket win over Lewdown in the same division.
Hopwood, formerly of Durham 2nd XI and Buckinghamshire in his younger days, switched to Chagford from Premier side Sandford during the winter.
Ollie Herrington (38) was at the other end for most of the chase as Chagford made light work of knocking off 122 to win. They did it inside 17 overs.
Noah Metherell (2-19) was Lewdown’s lone wicket-taker.
Lewdown had skipper Keith Maynard (48) and 28 wides to thank for their total of 122.
Neil Rowlands (4-39) and Jake Griffiths (2-9) were Chagford’s primary wicket-grabbers.