Devon Cricket Board - Fairbairn and Golding see Bovey home

Fairbairn and Golding see Bovey home

ANDY Fairbairn and Matt Golding put together a match-winning stand of 156 as Bovey Tracey came from behind to beat Paignton by five wickets.
Paignton’s total of 254 for seven looked adequate at tea – and a bit better than that when Bovey were 99 for five in reply.
Another wicket then could have been terminal for Bovey, but Paignton lacked the firepower to take it.
Bovey had time on their side – more than 30 overs remained when Fairbairn went out to join Golding – and by waiting for the bad ball to come they got over the line with an over and a bit to spare.
Ollie Higgs top scored for Paignton with 89 and after batting for 46 overs will be disappointed to have missed out on a maiden Premier Division century.
The key stands Higgs was involved in were 70 with Mickey Cousens – the University of Exeter student made 18 of them – and 67 with Chris Kelmere.
Kelmere, who went in at 162 for four, made a rapid 57 off 34 balls with six fours and four sixes.
Bovey’s bowlers had a modest afternoon. Ryan Bougourd, Sam Hickenbottom and Toby Codd were frugal but only managed two wickets between them.
Spinners Chris Bradley and Golding had a couple of wickets each, but neither kept the rate below six an over.
Bovey made a racing start in reply – Jordan Willougby scoring 53 of 38 balls, mostly in boundaries.
Kelmere (3-37) and bowled Paignton into the game and when Charlie Sheen and Luke Hammett went three balls apart Bovey were five down and wobbling.
Golding and Fairbairn did the sensible thing and took a no-risks approach for the next 30 overs.
Golding’s 73 not out was scored in two hours and 18 minutes. He faced 116 balls and hit eight fours.
Club captain Fairbairn was unbeaten on 77 from 93 balls, 10 of which skipped over the rope for four.
Injuries have stopped Fairbairn playing to his potential for most of the season so far, so he will have been pleased to make a telling contribution at last.
Peter Bradley, the Bovey captain on the field, said his side were not at there best for much of the game which made winning it a bit more special.
“Sometimes it's not the perceived big games that matter - like next week versus Torquay - it's ones like say where we win without performing at a level we should be,” said Bradley.
“We let Paignton get too many with the bat by bowling far too many boundary balls.
“Then we let them get on top with the ball, by losing wickets early on.
“The partnership between Golding and Fairbairn was chance-less.
“Matt has been our finisher all season. But that was the best knock from Fairbairn I think we have seen.”

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