By OLLIE SMITH
SOUTH Devon 2nd XI and Ipplepen 3rd XI took home 14 points apiece in a last-ball tie at Marsh Road.
Batting first after winning the toss, Ipplepen lost their top-three batters for single-figure scores. Alfie Short (2-24) did a lot of the early damage.
Andrew Maynard (26) and Joshua Perry (46no) recovered the Pens’ innings. Finn Holmes and Lewis Borlase helped them to 193 for nine, seven runs short of maximum batting points.
Joshua Vicary (2-19) and Carter Evans (2-27) were two of the main damage dealers for South Devon. There was a wicket each for Alan Berchams and Harry Ayling.
South Devon’s response was built around Ryan Maunder. The top five batters for South Devon added 100 to the total, Maunder’s knock was 74 of them.
Keith Wakeham’s spell of eight overs (4-14) held the home side’s run rate down, however the bowlers around him were seeing economies in the fours and fives.
A partnership worth 73 with Lewis Hill (55) made further inroads into the Ipplepen total, and South Devon reached the final over needing three runs to win with four wickets intact.
The first four balls of the final over, bowled by Rob Hay, went for just two runs, meaning the totals were level with two balls left. Danger man Maunder, now on 74, was the player on strike.
Maunder tried to nudge one into the leg-side, but was caught by Pens skipper Josh Perry, running in from square-leg. Hay bowled the next ball full and straight, knocking into the stumps of Harry Ayling and securing the tie.
Ipplepen captain Josh Perry heaped praise on his bowlers. “Keith Wakeham was instrumental in turning the game around. We knew the pitch would favour spinners after the first innings, and Keith really stepped up to the mark.
“The composure of Rob Hay was key to the result, especially after he switched to bowled off-breaks.
“Tight bowling from Lewis Borlase at the death helped keep the pressure on, and Rob was building even more at the other end.”
Keen to highlight other individuals, Perry said: “I think it’s really important to look at the batters around me. With the team, and the depth we had, I knew my role was to ensure we batted the full 40 overs.
“The quick-fire contribution from Lewis Borlase (35) meant I was able to bat at a more conservative pace.
“It was frustrating not to reach 200, but from 57 for four, it’s a real testament to the full squad getting to where we did.”
“It would have been really easy for us to give up, but the team kept pushing and ultimately made sure we secured the tie.”
