Manning calls for changes after Tavi miss out

TAVISTOCK chairman Dave Manning has called for a proper target checking procedure to be put in place and displayed correctly on scoreboards after his side’s three-run defeat at Thorverton.

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

A DIVISION

Frequent rain breaks made the game a miserable business for players and officials alike and potentially contributed to Tavistock losing a game they felt they should have won.

The Tolchards DCL uses the Duckworth-Lewis System to determine targets in rain-affected games – and it swung into action after Thorverton’s innings squelched to a halt with nearly six overs to go with their total on 156 for seven.

The DuckworthLewis ready reckoner posted a target of 172 for a Tavistock win, which was subsequently lowered a second time after a break for rain. And that is when things started to go wrong.

Manning, a former 1st XI captain, who played in the game, said confusion arose between umpires, scorers and players over what should be displayed on the scoreboard.

“When we came off for rain our total was 16 for two,” said Manning. “Duckworth-Lewis was recalculated and our new target was 156.

“On the scoreboard there was no area to put a ‘to win’ score and that led to a lot of the confusion. If we needed 156 to win and already had 16 of them, what remained was 140 to get. 

“Unfortunately, the scoreboard at Thorverton only had an area for the first-innings score, which was mistakenly put up as 140, which was what we still needed, not what we needed overall.

“The error was only noticed with about eight overs to go, by then it was getting a bit late to change the way we were batting.

“Even at the end there was some more confusion as it was unclear whether 156 was the target, or the Thorverton total.