devon cricket league 2025 - round 13

1ST XI

The 1st XI headed over the Moor to take on the league leaders Tavistock CC 1st XI.

With the return of Hazza, normal service was resumed at the toss with Tavistock winning and asking T&K to have a bat.  However, history was made at the toss with young Mark Wilson on the team sheet – the first T&K to play for all four XIs and probably the first player in the DCL to play for three clubs and seven XIs in the same season.

T&K got off to a rapid start thanks to Josh Thompson in his new role opening the batting as a pinch hitter – Thompson fell just two runs short of his fifty – being bowled by Harry Sawyers, one of Tavistock’s two immigrants from over the Tamar.  However the early drama was after 11.3 overs when the sightscreen decided to go on its travels in the wind bringing back memories of Sightscreen Surfing of a few years back – ironically Josh Hunt who won gold in the Pairs Event that day was making a rare outing for the 2nd XI!  Once Thompson was out for the second week running it became the Nathan Roux show, more on who was viewing it later – Roux finally fell for 101.  Special mention must be made of the 27 scored by Chris Kelmere who prior to play had to call a COBRA meeting to see if he could play – more on that also later.  No Tavistock bowler took more than two wickets and T&K posted 262 for 6 in their 50 overs.

In reply, Tavistock ran into Harry “grease lightning” Passenger who ran out both openers, William Barriball and David Manning.  However, this enabled it to become the Rodney Mupfudza road show despite still struggling from the effects of being hit on the head playing for a Zimbabwe Representative XI during the week.  Mupfudza finished undefeated on 125 supported by various cameos.  Tavistock won by 6 wickets with 7 balls left – T&K paying the price for having to fiddle overs at the end something which Evo unfortunately predicted in the scorebox.  No T&K bowler took more than one wicket.

Special mention must be made of Tavistock’s scorer, Kate Manning for demonstrating the Spirit of Cricket.  T&Ks match ball was lost but Kate gave Evo a ball as Tavistock will go hunting later for the lost ball.

Next up for the 1st XI next weekend is hosting Cullompton CC 1st XI.  This will be followed by Bax’s Karaoke Night combined with Evo’s fund raising effort for Autism After Hours.

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 1st XI                   262 for 6 (50 overs)

N Roux                                                                       101

J Thompson                                                                48

Tavistock CC 1st XI                                                   266 for 4 (48.5 overs)

R Mupfudza                                                                125 not out

W Scott-Munden                                                       40

Tavistock CC 1st XI (18 pts) beat Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 1st XI (7 pts) by 6 wickets

2ND XI

The 2nd XI played host to Kenn CC 1st XI.  However, disaster nearly struck mid-morning.  Heavy rain and no players from the 2nd XI had taken responsibility for putting the covers to Friday night.  Fortunately three of the 1st XI and a committee came to the rescue before the damage was beyond repair.

Under the leadership again of Vivek Kulkarii, T&K lost the toss any were asked to bat.

Tobias Delahunty led the way with the bat for T&K – falling just 12 runs short of a century.  Delahunty was supported by Josh Hunt with 41 – such a pity he can’t commit more to playing.  James Mason, formerly of this parish,  with 3 for 37 was the best of the Kenn bowlers as T&K reached 237 for 8 in their 45 overs,

In reply Kenn’s reply was like a horror show thanks to one bowler, Towkir Chowdhury who took 7 for 30.  At one stage Kenn were 17 for 7.  Only Charles Francis with 16 not out and no 11 Peter Chislett with 11 made double figures as Kenn were all out for 46 in just 16.1 overs.

Next up for the 2nd XI next weekend is a trip to take on Yelverton Bohemians CC 1st XI, one of the original teams in the DCL.

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 2nd XI                  237 for 8 (45 overs)

T Delahunty                                                               88

J Hunt                                                                         41

J Mason                                                                      3-37

Kenn CC 1st XI                                                          46 all out (16.1 overs)

T Chowdhury                                                            7-30

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 2nd (20 pts) beat Kenn CC 1st XI (5 pts) by 191 runs

3RD XI

The 3rd XI set off on their travels to take on Hatherleigh CC 3rd XI is the hope they would score more runs than the 1st and 2nd XIs did when they travelled to Hatherleigh.

Hatherleigh won the toss and asked T&K to have a bat.

Preshit Pawar led the way for T&K smashing 60 which included 8 * 6s!  Pawar was supported by Craig Davies with 45 as T&K scored 196 for 7 in their 40 overs.  The best of the Hatherleigh bowlers was Harry Sibcy with 4 for 33.

In reply it was left to another Sibcy, Jim, to lead a thrilling run case with 77.  When Sibcy was 9th out, Hatherleigh needed just 5 runs to win with 7 overs remaining.  However, Hatherleigh fell 3 runs short thanks primarily to Preshit Pawar with 4 for 40.

The 3rd XI can put their feet up next weekend before returning to action the following weekend home to Shobrooke Park CC 2nd XI.

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 3rd XI                   196 for 7 (40 overs)

P Pawar                                                                      60

C Davies                                                                     45

H Sibcy                                                                       4-33

Hatherleigh CC 3rd XI                                            193 all out (34.3 overs)

J Sibcy                                                                       77

P Pawar                                                                      4-40

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 3rd XI (19 pts) beat Hatherleigh CC 3rd XI (7 pts) by 3 wickets

4TH XI

The 4th XI played host to Thorverton CC 3rd XI with a full XI including the legend that is Phil “Braddog” Bradford who in the XIs hour of need came out of retirement after the best part of 20 years to play.

T&K won the toss and asked Thorverton to have a bat.

Aidan Lee top scored for Thoverton with 37, followed by Vishnu Nambiar with 35 and Archie Davidson with 31 as Thoverton reached 183 all out in 36.4 overs.  The best of the T&K bowlers was Meerwais Dilsouz, on loan from Exwick CC, with 4 for 23.

In reply, having starred with the ball last week, Matt Rossin starred with the bat this week for T&K scoring 69.  As for Phil Bradford he scored a sedate 24 off 40 balls which did though include 4 * 4s.  The best of the Thorverton bowlers was Vishnu Nambiar with 3 for 32.  Another loan player, Stephen Jones from Honiton CC, got T&K over the line with a four with 3 wickets in hand and 8 balls to spare.

Next up for the 4th XI is hosting St Marychurch Old Boys 1st XI next weekend.

Thorverton CC 3rd XI                                                183 all out (36.4 overs)

A Lee                                                                           37

V Nambiar                                                                  35

A Davidson                                                                31

M Dilsouz                                                                   4-23

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 4th XI                  187 for 7 (37.4 overs)

M Rossin                                                                    69

V Nambiar                                                                  3-32

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 4th XI (20 pts) beat Thorverton CC 3rd XI (7 pts) by 3 wickerts

Player of the Day

Towkir Chowdhury and Nathan Roux were clear candidates.  However, for his all-round performance it has to go to Preshit Pawar.

Spectator Watch

Merli Roux must get a mention having been given the day off from “hatch duties” travelled down to Tavistock with Kay Kulkarni to see hubby score his second successive century.  However, special mention must be made of Chris Kelmere snr that despite major logistical issues having wife Di in hospital, the club send her their best wishes for a speedy recovery, still travelled down to Tavistock so not to miss a cricket day.