VICTORS: The Devon League XI, skippered by Conrad Sutcliffe (front row, centre). They were (back, left to right): Paul Mitchell (Kingskerswell), Mike Benton (Paignton), Malcolm Coleman (Stoke Gabriel), Keith Wakeham (Ipplepen), Malcolm Kingdon (Paignton), Paul Harding (Kingskerswell). Front: Steve Lewis (Barton), Mike Sessions (Lustleigh), Sutcliffe (South Devon), Jimmy Millington (Chelston), Matt Thompson (Torquay).
KINGSKERSWELL’S Paul Harding was named man of the match after helping a Devon League XI to victory in the Brockman Cup 75th anniversary game at Torquay on August Bank Holiday Monday
The game, against a Brockman Cup XI picked from teams who take part in the competition, should have been played back in July.
Bad weather put paid to the first attempt to celebrate the cup competition’s landmark, but second time around on Bank Holiday Monday the only danger was from sunstroke!
Paul Mitchell, another Kingskerswell player, got the League XI off to solid start by making 56 and at 93 for one a big total looked on the cards.
The Brockman team got back into the game by claiming four quick wickets — two of them taken by Abbotskerswell’s Andy Lock — and at 106 for five the picture was a lot less rosy.
Harding and Jimmy Millington (Chelston) rescued the situation with a stand of 78 that hauled the total round to 184 for six.
Millington departed for 18, bowled having a swing at Babbacombe’s Gary Ibbotson (2-37), but Harding batted through to make 66 not out in a 40-over total of 203 for seven. Harding hit seven fours and a six during his 54-minute stay.
The Brockman reply started slowly - at 10 overs openers Tim Chapman and Alan Boon only had 28 on the board - then started to gather place.
Skipper Chapman went on to reach 32 before he was stumped off Malcolm Kingdon’s bowling and Stoke Gabriel’s Jeff Baker was just getting going when he was run out for 25.
The chase really gathered pace while Brixham’s Mark Newman and Ibbotson were batting together as they pushed the score along to 160 for five with six overs to go.
With the game in the balance the turning point was Newman’s departure, caught at mid-on by Mike Sessions off Harding for 55.
Newman hit eight fours and a six and got his runs at better than run-a-ball rate.
Ibbotson kept on going from one end — he was last out for 25 — but Harding (4-29) was wiping out his partners at the other.
Thirty to win from the last two overs was too tall an order and the Brockman XI were on 183 for eight when the overs ran out.
Devon League XI 203-7 (P Mitchell 57, P Harding 66no; A Lock 2-27, G Ibbotson 2-37), Brockman Cup XI 183-8 (T Chapman 32, J Baker 25, M Newman 55, G Ibbotson 25; P Harding 4-24, M Kingdon 2-26). League XI bt Brockman Cup XI by 20 runs.
FRIENDLY RIVALS: The two teams - and umpires Bert Mitchell and Mike Keast - pictured together prior to the Brockman Cup 75th anniversary game
