BROCKMAN CUP FIRST ROUND
Matches played May 22
HOLDERS Brixham had a comfortable passage into the second round of the Brockman Cup when they dispatched Bovey Tracey by four wickets at Northfields Lane.
Bovey were a promising 52 for three halfway through their 20 overs with Nathan Elphick (35) the pick of the batters so far.
Instead of kicking on using their wickets in hand, Bovey stumbled to 88 for five with four overs to go as the Eaves brothers, Scott (3-14) and Craig (2-17) pinned them down.
With keeper Chris Sleep claiming three catches and a stumping to keep the pressure on, Bovey were all out for 103 in the last over.
Sleep, man of the match in last season's final, then got the Brixham run chase under way by making 22.
Chris Barron (13) kept the score ticking over, then Dan Franklin (24no) and Andy Simpson (8no) put on 30 unbroken to see Brixham home with nine balls to spare.
Brixham will be away to Ipplepen in the next round on June 3.
Bovey Tracey 103 (N Elphick 35, S Newton 12, D Newton 11; C Eaves 2-17, S Eaves 3-14), Brixham 104-6 (D Franlin 24no, C Sleep 22, C Barron 13, F Baker 12; S Newton 2-27). Brixham bt Bovey Tracey by 4 wkts.
KINGSKERSWELL, beaten finalists last season, fell at the first hurdle when they lost by 11 runs to Stoke Gabriel.
Stoke skipper Jeff Baker won the toss and batted, a and was rewarded with a total of 117 for six.
Baker and Dave Higgins were early casualties, but surviving opener Mark Newman (24) got the board moving and brother Adam (19no) did his bit by shoring up an end as the runs were ground out against canny four-over spells from Pieter Douglas (1-14) and Nathan Weedon (2-15).
South African Jannie Pieterse wafted a bright-and-breezy 17 not out at the end.
Kerswell had a similar start – openers Etherington and Dave Lear managed six between them – but Richard Hancox (25no) and Matt Stephens (32) got the villagers back in the game.
The turning point was when Stephens was caught on the boundary by Clive Burnell off Dave Higgins.
Nathan Weedon made 15 in a lost cause as 22 off the final three overs, bowled by Higgins (2-21) and Stephen Nand-Lal (1-8 off 4), proved too many for Kerswell, who ran out of steam on 106 for five.
Stoke Gabriel are at home to Babbacombe tomorrow (Tuesday) night. Also in action tomorrow night are Paignton, whose five-wicket win over Cockington set them up for a crack at Abbotskeswell.
Stoke Gabriel 117-6 (M Newman 24, A Newman 19no, J Pieterse 17no; N Weedon 2-15), Kingskerswell 106-5 (R Hancox 25no, M Stevens 32, N Weedon 15; D Higgins 2-21). Stoke bt Kerswell by 11 runs.
Cockington 101-6 (T Cross 28, K Jones 17; G Benton 2-9, W Matthewman 2-28), Paignton 107-4 (M Taylor 29no; C Bryan 22no). Paignton bt Cockington by 6 wkts.