OPENING batsman Jake Pascoe was Bovey Tracey’s unlikely hero with the ball in an 84-run win over Bridestowe & Belstone.
Bridestowe & Belstone were pottering along in reply at 101 for four – three wickets having fallen to Ben Kay – when the game swung dramatically in Bovey’s favour.
Pascoe, rarely deployed as a bowler, took three wickets in five balls as B&B subsided to 101 for seven.
Pascoe went on to claim career-best figures of five for 31 as B&B were dismissed for 126 chasing 211 to win. Shaquan Glasgow ran out of partners to bat with on 46 not out.
“Our bowling was much tighter, which was great to see,” said Bovey captain Seb Ansley.
“Ben Kay gained his just rewards for a quality spell up top, then Jake’s me flight and guile rripped through the middle to lower order.”
Slade van Staden, who represents the Dolphins franchise at home in South Africa, top scored for Bovey with 85 in their 50-over total of 210 for nine. He got off the mark by hitting his first-ball for four and added 10 more and a six before his time was up.
Van Staden’s partnership of 86 with Lewis Hammett (30) was topped-up by Tom Andrew making 25.
“Slade made it look pretty easy for the most part and was someone to bat around, with others chipping in towards the end,” said Ansley. “We finished with a decent total on a tricky pitch.”
Bridestowe & Belstone bowlers Tallan Burns, Simon Gillespie, Craig Penberthy and Shaquan Glasgow did well to operate at less than four runs an over.
Skipper Burns was the last man out for 25 before Pascoe changed the game.
Burns said: “A few positives to take from the game but, overall, a disappointing day for the team.
“I thought our bowlers fought back really well to restrict Bovey to 208 after an impressive innings from their overseas van Staden.
“Credit must go to the Bovey bowlers second innings, who bowled well on a deteriorating pitch. Ultimately, too many of us handed our wickets away cheaply rather than batting long.”
[O] TORQUAY & Kingskerswell made light work of beating Barton by eight wickets in a lopsided derby on the Recreation Ground.
Barton were rolled over for a mere 86 in the 30th over of a 50-over game with spinners Harry Passenger (3-14) and Chris Kelmere (4-8) doing the damage. Seven wickets fell for 25 runs as Barton collapsed from 61 for three.
Josh Thompson marked his T&K debut with the first two wickets to tumble.
Torquay & Kingskerswell lost wickets at 14 and 57 on the way to victory. After Nathan Roux was second out for 24, Tim Western (44no) finished the job.
