Devon Cricket Board - Tie costs Torquay share of top spot

Tie costs Torquay share of top spot

WHAT a finish! Torquay and Bovey Tracey couldn’t be separated in a high-scoring game that ended in a tie.
Bovey made 246 for six in a game reduced to 47 overs each due to rain – opener Mark Lake cracking a top score of 76.
Torquay captain Matt Thompson then stroked 77 as his side replied with 246 for nine. Richard Hancocks was run out off the last ball of the match trying to scramble the run that would have won it.
Defeat cost Torquay their share of top spot as North Devon’s win over Sidmouth move them six points clear.
Bovey are now joint third with Exmouth, who overpowered Plymouth by eight wickets.
At one stage it appeared Torquay would be chasing 300 or more as Bovey raced to 82 without loss in the first 15 overs with Lake leading the way.
Bertus Loots broke the stand by spinning out Jordan Willoughby (21) and at halfway lake was bowled by Nick Watkin with the score on 121 for two.
Matt Golding (41) and Peter Bradley (26) didn’t find runs quite so easy to come by, which was just as well for Torquay.
Lewis Hammett (21) and Charlie Sheen (26) helped Bovey add 58 in the last seven overs as the rate climbed again.
Wakin (2-32) and Loots (2-44) were the most effective Torquay bowlers. Ryan Stevenson (0-38) didn’t go for many compared to some of his team-mates.
Torquay lost Pugh (19) and Jack Richardson (18) getting to 42 for two – Lake (3-48) taking them both out.
Thompson and Sachinth Galhenage (53) put on 122 for the third wicket which put Torquay firmly in contention.
Chris Bradley (2-37) and Golding (3-38) got the brake on before Torquay could run away with the game.
When Thompson went at 206 for five with more than nine overs to go, a Torquay win remained the most likely outcome.
Losing four wickets for 27 runs – two to Golding and one to the returning Lake – put a different complexion on the game.
Torquay reached the final over from Bougourd needing nine to win with Watkin and Hancocks at the crease.
The target came down to two off the last ball and Hancocks was run out coming back for the second.

Justin Yau, the Torquay captain, said he was’t sure whether to be pleased not to lose, disappoonted not to win or happy with the actual outcome.

“It was a cracking game of cricket for the neutrals and the game ebbed and flowed throughout the day,” said Yau.

“We didn't field very well and gave them 15-20 runs in the field.

“Bertie Loots bowled very well to stem the flow of runs, as did Nick Watkin, and we did well to restrict when they looked like they were going to push 300 when Lake was in.

“ Matt Thompson and Sach Galhenage batted brilliantly to get us into a winning position and we threw it away at the end with some careless cricket.

“We looked like we had lost it but had Richard Hancocks to thank at the end when we needed nine to win.

“It was a huge positive not to lose and the tie was probably an accurate reflection of the day as an entirety.

“We will regroup and get ourselves going during the week in preparation for Plympton.”

Bradley said the game against Torquay had been a frustrating one as it was there to be won.

“We felt the game was ours – and I sure Torquay felt the same,” said Bradley.

“We got into good positions, but things didn’t go our way when we batted.

“In the field we let ourselves down by bowling too many four balls and missing our opportunities.

‘Fair play to Torquay. They came back at us when the chance came along, with bat and ball.”

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