Devon Cricket Board - D West: Kerswell a revelation!

D West: Kerswell a revelation!

D DIVISION WEST

“And on the day of reckoning, the spirit of good men shall prevail. The irresistible force will crush all before it and the untold riches and glory of triumph and honour will be ours forever. Let us do this in style.”

This was the battle cry that Kingskerswell skipper Nigel Butt woke his players up with on Saturday morning before taking on Plympton for what would hopefully be the title clinching game.

In truth, with just 2 points required, most of the hard work had already been done but cricket, being the game it is, nothing can be taken for granted.

The formula was simple, with just 2 points needed, either bat first and score the 125 runs required, and then enjoy the rest of the game, or bowl first, take the 4 wickets, and do likewise. Losing the toss meant that it had to be the former, and at 9-1, and 43-2, things could certainly have gone wrong. However batters 3, 4, and 5, Messer’s Gregersen (40), Owen (41), and Hurrell (56no) respectively, ensured the points required for promotion and the championship, were surpassed with ease.

It was perhaps fitting that title clinching 125th run was scored by Chris Hurrell. With almost 600 runs this season and always scored at a rapid rate, he has, without doubt, been the player of the year in this league. The concluding total of 191-8 was better than it looked on a somewhat unpredictable batting surface. Most effective of the Plympton bowlers was Shaun Mortimer (2-31) although this came off only 6 overs and he was therefore also the most expensive.

Kerswell were determined to finish the season with a win especially as Plympton were the only side in the league that they had not yet beaten. It seemed to be mission achieved when Plympton subsided to 66-7 with the wickets being shared between Pieter Douglas (2-29) Paul Harding (3-30) and Chris Hurrell (2-29) only Danny. Queen, with a somewhat fortunate 48, had been able to assert any authority for the batting side.

However there then followed a period of stubborn resistance by the Plympton tail enders with D. Mulberry proving particularly obstinate. Indeed during this period Kerswell lost their outstanding fielder of the season, Steve Waters, to a double fracture and double dislocation of a finger whilst trying to take a catch in the deep. Remarkably after leaving the field for a short time Waters returned to the fray determined to complete the game despite only being able to field with one arm.

Kerswell skipper Nigel Butt tried everything to initially force the breakthrough and then encourage the playing of some shots before eventually turning to Seb Powell to ask him to turn his arm over for the first time this season with only six overs remaining. It took him just one ball to take the caught and bowled required to clinch the Kerswell victory.

The 19 points gained ensured Kerswell had won the league by an 18 point margin with Torquay, their closest rivals, also winning on the last day. Following the game the champagne flowed and to some the 9 hours of partying that then followed would inevitably take its toll the following day.

ASHBURTON finished off an excellent season in third place with a tough fight from relegated Plymouth.

Batting first Plymouth were consistent throughout their batting order getting a start but not able to go on and get a big score. C Wood (31) and J Widnell (20) led the way to a useful score of 141-9.

The turning point for the innings was when skipper Matt Coon brought on Russ Lacey (5-44) to bowl some gentle off spin instead of his usual seam up.

There was no spinner in the side and it was thought a change of pace might do the trick, the hunch worked, Lacey picking up a fifver almost finishing off the innings.

Ashes reply started solid enough with the dependable Kevin Cock (34) and the improving Tom Pucknell (13) putting on 74 for the first wicket. Ashes were by then halfway there.

After Nick Yabsley (11) went the innings started to disintegrate as Hoffenden (4-24) and Hughes (3-42) started to get among the wickets.

With seven wickets down for 107 things started to look a bit difficult for Ashes to survive let alone win the game.

There then followed an unlikely pairing of Russ Lacey (29) and Mark Priddle (7no) who put on 37 for the ninth wicket, after which only four runs were needed for victory. In marched Robin Lambert (4no) who hit the second ball faced for a boundary four and a winning total of 145-8 with four overs to go.

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