Devon Cricket Board - Plymouth reel in Pympton to earn tie in basement battle

Plymouth reel in Pympton to earn tie in basement battle

PLYMOUTH and Plympton fought out a tie at Harewood House in a city derby that went down to the last ball of the match.
Plymouth were bowled out for 182 in the 49th of their 50 overs – opener Mike Simmers making a top score of 85.
Plympton got down to their last over, bowled by Simmers, needing five to win with two wickets intact.
Craig Donohue was run-out off the last ball of the game trying to steal the single that would have won it for Plympton.
The result leaves Plympton bottom of the table, 58 points from safety with 100 left to play for in the last five games of the season.
Plymouth edged out of the bottom two thanks to their 14-point haul, but have fellow bottom-four side Exeter this Saturday and could slip straight back if they lose that one.
Dave Burke, who was Plymouth/s caretaker captain in the absence through injury of Sam Stein, said, when the drama had died down he was relieved to come away without losing.
“Plympton is a hard place to win a game of cricket for a side like ours,” said Burke.
“The wicket is slow, which makes it hard to bowl on and with the ball not coming on to the bat hitting boundaries is difficult.
“Our batting collapsed badly in the middle order – we were 141 for one then 156 for seven – and that cost us heavily. Three ridiculous run-outs didn’t help.
“We were without three containing bowlers who were not playing – Harry Ramsden, Hal Kerton and Sam Stein – who were tailor made for the conditions.
“Bowling sides out is hard at Plympton, especially one that knows how to play there because they play there every week.
“We were just glad not to lose under the circumstances.”
Simmers (85) and James Toms (26) opened up with a stand of 87 for Plymouth, who moved on to 141 without further mishap. Then it all went wrong.
Plympton skipper Jamie Carr (3-26) spun out Simmers, which was the signal for Plymouth to shut down.
Six wickets went for 15 runs added in eight overs as Carr, Tom Johnson (2-31) and those run-outs came into play.
Plympton got the start they didn’t want after the break when opener David Ackford was cleaned up first ball by Burke,
Josh Mailling (30) and David Wrench (32) made a 72-run dent in the deficit and after they went at 74 and 77 the chase was taken on by Johnson.
Johnson made 59 in stands of 25 with Dan Robotham, 27 with Carr and 39 with Ross Farrer (19) to whittle away at the target.
At 168 for five with three and half overs to go, Plympton were on course for their first win of the season.
Henry Bennett (3-39) spun out Farrer and Alex Carr then Jamie Lee was run out by Joe Hagan-Burt. Plympton were 178 for eight with five balls to go and the game back in the balance with Johnson still in.
Johnson had to go for it and paid the price – caught at long on by Toms with three needed to win.
Donohue scampered through for two to level it with a ball to go and was run out from short mid-on by Toms going for an all-or-nothing last-ball single.
Plympton skipper Carr felt said it was a great match his side might have won and did well not to lose!
“We should have won but considering they were 141 for one with 17 to go it was a great effort from our guys to bowl them out,” said Carr.
“Losing David Wrench and Josh Mailing soon after drinks lost us a bit of momentum, but Tom Johnson batted superbly and with 17 left the win was ours
“Losing Ross Farrer was a key moment as not having won all season, it became a struggle when it should be easy.”

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