Third league ton for Riaz as Plymouth cruise to victory over Bovey Tracey

FaizanRiaz - 570 league runs in half a season at an average of 81.43

FAIZAN Riaz clubbed an unbeaten century as Plymouth raced to an eight-wicket win over Bovey Tracey.

It was the Pakistani’s third Premier ton of the season and took him to 570 league runs at an average of 81.43.

Bovey Tracey skipper Toby Codd probably thought his side’s total of 182 all out was not a winning one, but would not have expected to lose quite so rapidly!

Riaz smashed 17 fours and four sixes on his way to 112 not out from 74 balls. He went from 0-50 in 27 deliveries and reached three figures 43 balls later.

Ben Stein was unbeaten on 43 when the winning runs were struck two balls into the 25th over.

Hugo Whitlock (2-41) took both Plymouth wickets to fall.

Bovey were 151 for four with 10 overs to go so their final total of 182 was a disappointment. Brian Chari (34) and Josh Mailling (42) made early runs but only Peter Bradley (27) offered much after that.

John Kerridge (4-27) did some of the damage, including two in two when he had Ashley Treeby and Dan Green in successive balls. Tom Andrew fended off the hat-trick.

Riaz (3-23) picked up three wickets in nine balls to bring the Bovey innings to a clattering close.

Winning skipper Jon Varcoe felt there was more to the win than one innings and praised the team’s  bowlers.

“After Bovey got off to a good start at drinks, we were looking to restrict them to less than 250,” said Varcoe.

“Our spinners after drinks were superb at building dot balls and forcing the batters to take risks. 

“John Kerridge was turning it both, ways, which is never easy to play.”

On the batting, he had this to say: “Ben and Faz both batted superbly, putting away anything that was loose.”

For Bovey it was a second successive defeat after a run of five wins in a row.

Unhappy skipper Codd said: “It was a disappointing way to end a very positive first half of the season.

“We were outplayed in all three departments by Plymouth, who fully deserved the points.”