Devon Cricket Board - Pens hold on to win cup by three runs

Pens hold on to win cup by three runs

IPPLEPEN thwarted a late dash for victory by Dartington & Totnes to carry off the Aaron Printers Narracott Cup by three runs.

Ipplepen’s total of 140 for six in the final of the T20 competition at South Devon CC looked more than enough when D&T were 60 for four with eight overs to go.

Quick-scoring batters Ryan Stevenson (21) and Bertus Loots (24) had been and gone – and Jamie Palmer had just departed after flogging a six over long-on earlier in the over.

Pens’ bowlers seemed to be on top as skipper Keith Wakeham (2-17), Tom Dyer (1-17), Joe Abbott (1-20) and Steve Bowden (0-10 off three) had kept it tighter than a tic.

Just as the game started to meander towards its inevitable conclusion, Darts’ batters Angus Wilson and Brad Mitchell upped the temp

Some big hitting got Darts to 118 for four with two overs to go – the first from Abbott and the last from Bowden.

Abbot went for 10, which left 13 to win off six balls, which came down to nine off three. Bowden kept his nerve and when his next ball only cost a single it was all over bar the shouting.

With nine men on the boundary by now, Mitchell still managed to hit the last ball for four, but it wasn’t enough.

So joy for Ippelpen, who had not won the cup before and disappointment again for D&T, who have reached the last three finals and lost every one.

Pens’ total of 140 for six was anchored round a stylish knock of 49 from Indian opener Rachit Lakhmani, who was run out going for a second which would have brought up his 50.

That knock earned Lakhmani the man-of-the-match award, which was presented to him by match umpire and former England player Roger Tolchard.

Ipplepen were 71 for two at the halfway stage and scored at the same steady rate in the second half despite losing Lakhmani at 86 for three.

The supporting runs came from Abbot (19) and Matt Quartley, who biffed a quick 17 at the end.

Loots (4-0-19-0) was the meanest of the D&T bowlers while Kalon Veale (2-24) had the most wickets.

Ipplepen 140-6 (R Lahkmani 49, J Abbot 19, M Quartley 17no, S Powell 11, T Dyer 13, J Lewis 11no; K Veale 2-24), Dartington & Totnes 137-4 (B Mitchell 46no, B Loots 24, R Stevenson 21; K Wakeham 2-17). Ipplepen bt Dartington & Totnes by 3 runs.

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773