Devon Cricket Board - Four wickets in 11 balls swings final

Four wickets in 11 balls swings final

Stoke Gabriel celebrate beating Dartington & Totnes to win the Aaron Printers Narracott Cup

BIRTHDAY boy Angus Lee was man of the match as Stoke Gabriel trounced Dartington & Totnes by 87 runs in the final of the Aaron Printers Narracott Cup.

Dartington & Totnes had home advantage in the final – and a job on their hands as postponing the game by a week due to bad weather ruled out a couple of key players.

After Stoke had piled up 177 for five in their 20 overs, hard-hitting left hander Simon Phillips clubbing 88 off 66 balls, D&T had another job on their hands just staying in the game.

Dead-eye bowling from Matt Smyth (2-15) and Nick Sandbrook (0-18) kept the lid on D&T from the start.

Kalon Veale (40) and Kyle Blanchard (41) did their best to keep D&T in it, but the asking rate kept climbing all the time.

D&Ts hopes of winning were snuffed out in the space of 11 balls from 16-year-old seamer Lee, who took four wickets to rip out the middle order.

Veale was clean bowled as the ball jagged off the seam alarmingly, then Joe Hockings nicked the ball on to his own stumps.

A leg-stump yorker accounted for dangerman Ian Bransdon – in and out for one – and Lee completed his spell by bowling a bemused Angus Wilson, who offered no shot.

Darts had slumped fom 65 for one to 84 for five and both sides knew it was all over then.

Phillips came back with the ball to pick up a couple of scalps and with Jack Tolley getting in on the act with a couple more Darts were all out for 110 in the last over.

Phillips, who hit six fours and four sixes during his bright-and-breezy innings, may have felt a little hard done by to miss out on the man-of-the-match award.

Torquay president Bob Dickinson (pictured right with Lee), who presents the cup which is named after his late uncle Ted, made Lee his man of the match for a sound reason.

“Competitions like this are about encouraging young players and Angus certainly impressed,” said Dickinson.

Sportingly, Phillips clapped as loud if not louder than the rest of the team when Lee collected the solid silver trophy.

Victory gives Stoke Gabriel the midweek double as their 2nd XI won the Brockman Cup by beating Shaldon two weeks ago.

The last time that was achieved was back in 2003 by Brixham. Before that the double has been done by Barton (1955, 58, 61), Chelston (1962, 67) and Paignton (1986, 88).

This season is the 60th anniversary of the Narracott Cup and a diamond jubilee game is being played at Torquay on August 29. Competition organisers would love to hear from any members of the Narracott family still living in South Devon who would like to attend.

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773