IPPLEPEN got the start they wanted in the B Division when they beat Thorverton by 10 runs.
Pens put the pedal to the metal in the last 10 overs to reach 250 for seven – skipper Sam Wakeham swishing 72 off 45 balls with three sixes and 11 fours.
George Greed and Andy Hills put on 111 for Thors’ second wicket, to get their chase up and running
Thors were in six-an-over territory with 15 to go, which had crept up to 10 an over going into the last six.
Jake Crouch had a bash – 35 off 19 balls – but the clock was against Thors and they ran out of time at 241 for nine.
Wakeham said his side showed all the right attributes to win a game, even when it wasn’t going their way.
“We batted very well and executed our plans, getting to 250 after Adam Peters and Jack Lewis set the platform,” said Wakeham.
Joe Abbott and Jonny Norman bowled decent opening spells, but we could only get one wicket.
“We showed great character and discipline after drinks to put Thorverton behind the run rate and pick-up wickets.”
Pens were 130 for five when Wakeham went in. Jack Lewis (40), Adam Peters (53) and Mawgan Penrice (27) the main run-getters. Wickets were shared round with Hills (1-33) the cheapest.
Wakeham did most of the scoring in stands of 81 with Sam Defriend (17) and 24 with Marcus Green (19).
Greed (62) and Hills (61) took Thors to 130 for two. Dave Baldock (24) had the only score of note for a while as ball dominated bat.
Joe Abbott (3-43) had Greed and John Farley then Jonny Norman (3-43) and Green (2-47) took wickets while Steve Bowden kept it tight.
Only Paul Fielder (18) reached double figures as the run rate climbed before Crouch got on with it late in the game – a bit too late to change it.
It finished closer than looked likely and there were no complaints from new skipper Andy Pitt in his assessment of where it went wrong.
“We bowled too many four balls throughout the innings on a great pitch and young Wakeham batted incredibly well,” said Pitt.
“We started well with the chase but lost momentum when Greed and Hills got out.
“Jake Crouch's hitting at the end made it a closer game, but Ipplepen seamers bowled well towards the death to put us under pressure.”
