Devon Cricket Board - Nichols tinkering pays off against Thorverton

Nichols tinkering pays off against Thorverton

PLYMSTOCK skipper James Nichols tinkered with the batting order at Thorverton and it paid off… just!
Nichols moved himself and Teddy Richards up the order and their knocks of 44 and 33 respectively helped Plymstock reach 186 for nine. Dean Falco (22) and Jason Williams (22) weighed in.
There were three wickets each for Dan Beatty, Jake Crouch and Jake Choules.
Thorveton were languishing at 134 for nine in reply after Ian Whalley (4-42) had got into them.
Apart from Dave Baldock (46) and Graham White (23) the batters had largely failed.
Enter tail-ender Nick Barton, who clubbed a rapid 52 not out as Thors reached the last over to win with one wicket in hand.
Last man Choules was run-out trying to reduce the arrears to give Plymstock a three-run victory.
Said Nichols: “It is a sign of how far we have come that we won as this time last year we wold have lost,” said Nichols.
“The changes in the batting order did make us stronger – and with Dave Orchard and Scott Mansfield back for this Saturday we will have even more depth for he rest of the season.
“Our last two games before halfway are Ivybridge and Axminster, who are both decent. If we win both we send out a message for the second half.”
Thors’ skipper White said: “The batsman need to do better.
“It’s great that we bat a long way down and nearly won a game we had all but thrown away.
“But we are making it too hard for ourselves.”

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