Skipper Ansley helps Bovey Tracey to four-wicket win over Torquay

KIPPER Seb Ansley ground out a match-winning innings that steered Bovey Tracey to a four-wicket win over Torquay & Kingskerswell.

- by CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

Bovey appeared to have done the hard bit in the A Division encounter on the Ashburton Road ground by skittling Torquay & Kingskerswell for 120. Ben Kay (3-34) trumped Ollie Clifford-Bourne (2-22) and Will Christophers (2-23) in the Bovey bowling stats.

Chris Kelmere (32), Harry Passenger (23) and Aaron Hearn (29) made T&K’s only scores above nine. Five batters did not manage a run between them!

Without Hearn’s application down the order when T&K were 85 for eight, the chase would have been shorter.

When Bovey were 62 for six in response, with opener Jake Pascoe just out for 16 compiled in 65 minutes, it had ceased to be a routine pursuit.

Spin had been the Bovey batters’ downfalls. If Passenger (3-17) did not get them, Kelmere (2-47) or Harry Baxendale (1-20) did!

Ansley, known for his robust approach to batting, played against type with a studious knock of 48 not out from 74 balls faced.

Pete Bradley, who was Ansley’s predecessor as skipper, shored-up the opposite end for an unbeaten dozen off 65 deliveries that helped see the chase to its conclusion.

Ansley said despite the pitfalls along the way to victory, he was always confident of getting a win.