Torquay & Kingskerswell 4th XI bag first win of the season | Experienced Pugh (pictured) helps T&K chase 215 | Three wickets for Frost and Jones
By OLLIE SMITH
TORQUAY & Kingskerswell’s 4th XI may be anchored to the bottom of the H Division West, however they picked up their first win of the season in style, as a ten-player side chased down 215 away to Yelverton 3rd XI.
Yelverton won the toss and chose to bat, however were three down by the first ball of the sixth over. T&K’s Leigh Scarff (two for 49) and Joe Frost (three for 38) were the men to do the early damage.
Three scores of twenty by middle-order Yelverton batters were all halted by new captain Stephen Jones; he accounted for Mylo Connell (23), Daniel Brookes (21), and Sebastian Clewer (25), on his way to three for 25.
Alex Gordon came in at seven and helped add 104 to the total. His highest stand was worth 77 with Chris Brooking. When Gordon was out for 45, he was caught off the bowling of Devon Seniors player Mike Pugh; the score had reached a respectable 187 for nine. A generous number of extras (55) helped the score tick over 200, and eventually 214 for nine from the 40 overs.
The T&K chase started with Rob Jack, another Devon Seniors player, stumped for 12, and Leigh Scarff caught for three. Will Frost and Mike Pugh rebuilt the innings, together the pair added 122 to the total.
Frost, making only his second appearance of the season, bought up his maiden fifty in a typically sedate fashion, needing 105 balls to reach it. Pugh needed less than half as many to bring up his landmark, he took 43.
When Frost was out for 53, a mini collapse ensued. In the space of three overs, T&K had slipped from 178 for two, to 196 for six. Yelverton captain Alex Gordon (two for 34) removed two of the batters without them troubling the scorers.
Pugh however, was looking to finish off the job. Despite beginning to run out of partners, he cashed in on a helpful number of extra runs and deliveries.
He eventually finished on 98 not out, a four instead of a six scuppering his chances of a first club ton of the season, as T&K won by 3 wickets with just three balls remaining.
T&K captain Stephen Jones was complimentary about both sides’ fight, “We felt Yelverton fought back very well from 86 for 6 to get 214, and we were a little disappointed, but confident we could get close.”
“We were given a great start by our openers, and Mike and Will put us in a great position, but then we had a wobble.”
“As wickets started to fall, we had the feeling that if someone could stay with Pugh, then TKCC could get the total.”
“The effort shown by just our ten players was remarkable, and then credit to Mike for getting us over the line.”
