Thorverton's up-and-down run chase ends in a tie | 'Gutted with the collapse but would have taken 15 points before the game and probably at tea' – Jake Choules

TORQUAY & KINGSKERSWELL slugged it out with Thorverton for 97 overs in an A Division nail-bitter that ended in a tie.

Ben Pomare and Harry Passenger both scored half-centuries for Torquay & Kingskerswell in a 50-over total of 251 for nine.

Luke Vukisic and George Daldorph reciprocated with half-centuries for Thorverton, who seemed on course for victory at 230 for five with six overs to go. Then it got much more interesting!

Wickets fell, five of them for 11 runs scored as tension grew, and bottom-of-the-table Thorverton ran out of road with the scores level.

Pomare (50) and Passenger (62) were the main T&K scorers in a running total of 168 for four. After a brief dip to 179 for seven, Rio Koyikkara (35) and Harry Baxendale (21) put on 48.

“Ben batted well again, can’t wait to see him go big,” said T&K captain Harry Passenger. But Rio impressed massively, played with good positivity, and put on a partnership with Bax to get us back where we wanted to be.”

Daldorph had three wickets, Ben Slaviero two and Alex Jopling bowled 10 overs of leg-spin for just 23 runs given away.

Thorverton set off briskly through Dan Robbins (33) and Vukusic (74), who was the most recent man out at 145 for four. While Harry Choules (38) and Daldorph (54) were advancing to 230 for five, the outcome looked inevitable.

Tyler and Ritesh Dabhade bowled Torquay & Kingskerswell back into the game with four wickets for 18 runs. That left two to win with four overs to get them and two wickets in hand.

“Second half we were miles off it in a few periods,” said Passenger. “Some class pieces of cricket from Ed Smout-Cooper – a freak, leg-side stumping – to get us back in the game.

Tyler produced the goods with two wickets in seven balls to leave it dead level.

“You can always rely on James Tyler to be effective in situations like that,” said Passenger.

Looking back on a busy afternoon, Passenger said: “Not sure if the outcome really reflects the game, but a good last five overs of fight to get some points.

“And another week in the second spot, so moderately happy with the outcome.”

Jake Choules, the Thorverton captain, found it difficult deciding whether it was one that got away or a better result than expected against a promotion-chasing side.

Said Choules, whose side are still on the bottom, said: “We had a great start with the bat, and a good partnership between Harry Choules and George, but that just wasn’t enough.

“Obviously gutted with the collapse but we would have taken 15 points before the game and probably at tea,” said Choules.

“George Daldorphy (3-44) and Ben Slaviero (2-40) have found some form with the ball and what a great effort from Alex Jopling to go at two an over in a game like that.

“We suffered a costly drop yet again, and a few other things didn’t go our way, but not inclined to moan too much with Syzmanski not able to bowl.”

Choules was referring to Devon’s opening bowler Kazi Szymanski, who was unable to take the new ball having suffered an injury while batting.