Devon Cricket Board - C Division 2nd XI: Pens pair break record

C Division 2nd XI: Pens pair break record

C DIVISION 2nd XI

ALAN Boon and Keith Bell put together a record-breaking stand off 177 unbroken for the seventh wicket as Ipplepen staged a remarkable comeback to beat Clyst St George.

Clyst St George have yet to win a game this term but they were seemingly on their way to a shock success over league leaders Ipplepen II.

Paul Laverick (55) and Sean Middleton (49) had led the villagers to 199 for nine after negotiating good bowling spells from Steve Harris (4-55) and Jon Sewell (3-51).

Mark Johnson then claimed three for 23 as the home side were in all sorts of trouble on 23-6!

Johnson had Harris then and bowled run machine Tom Cooper and Chris Partridge in the space of seven balls.

The farcical run out of Jon Ranjit left the score at 23 for six and still requiring 110 for the losing draw figure.

Pens’ skipper Tapley said: “At drinks I told the guys to keep an eye on the score board and just try to get us to 134 and settle for eight points.”

Old warhorses Bell and Boon had been in similar situationsmany times before and were the calmest players on the ground.

Over by over ticked by and with 10 to go only 77 were needed for an improbable victory. Bell passed 50 first and when Boon lofted Laverick, whose four overs went for 32, into the trees the target was down to 40 off five.

An eighth four from Bell off the first ball of the last over gave Pens a remarkable victory with both Bell and Boon 78 not out in an unbroken partnership of 177

The old record, set by Tavistock batters Jan Kaminski and John Rich against Whitchurch, was smashed by 73 runs.

Axminster II remain without a win in the C Division but they had the better of their home meeting with Barnstaple and Pilton.

Steven Reed struck a superb 138 and, with skipper Dan Murnane chipping in with 49, the Cloakham Lawn side closed on 264-4.

Barum were then restricted to 164-7 as Matt Prior took 2-26 in eleven overs and 14-year old James Rockett claimed 1-19 in six overs before being denied any further part in the action by the rule forbidding youngsters bowling more than six overs.

Ottery St Mary II were narrowly edged out by Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough II. The Otters were bowled out for 154 with only Ron Crabb (47) and Louis Biggs (30) making much headway.

Biggs then claimed 4-50 for Ottery but the home side scraped home with their last pair at the wicket.

Thorverton II were mighty close to claiming a home win over Cornwood III. After Alan Tait (48) and Neil Millward (32) had led the Thors to 166-7 – three wickets each for Fran Adam (3-17) and Nigel O’Hea (3-30), the visitors were forced to close on 140-9, losing their ninth wicket in the final over of a match that went the distance. Phil Bees top scored with 52 for Cornwood whilst the Thors wicket takers were Mark Shaw (2-14), Mike Denford (2-22), Adrian Gray (2-30) and James Meredith who sent down 13 overs and, although only bagging the one wicket, went for a miserly 15 runs!Clyst Hydon II made short work of bottom of the table Ivybridge, beating them by eight wickets. Only Peter Bird (24) made much of an impression although the visiting total was boosted by 32 extras. Chris Holmes claimed 4-47 and the final wicket fell on 117. Rick Martin then hit an unbeaten 59 and Mike Oberholster weighed in with an unbeaten 28 as just two wickets were lost in the run chase, both taken by Brian Jarvis (2-30).

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