Devon Cricket Board - A Division reports & reactions

PLYMPTON have got some catching up to do to rejoin the A Division promotion race after going down by four wickets at Sandford.

Wes Hartslief hit 84 as Plympton reached 201 all out.

Sandford timed their reply to perfection easing over the line with an over to go without too many dramas.

That’s two defeats on the trot for Plympton, who were top before Heathcoat turned them over seven days earlier. Now they are fifth with 15 points between them and Sandford in second place. Heathcoat are eight points further up the table.

“We were about 25 runs short – and didn’t bat out all our overs,” which didn’t help,” said Ross Farrer, who stood in as captain in the absence of Jeremy Williams.

“Both sides lost early wickets, but they batted just a little bit better than we did.

“It was an important game and one we didn’t want to lose, but it doesn’t mean we are oit of it.

‘There are a lot of points to play of yet and I can see the games against Paignton (3rd) and Heathcoat on the last two Saturdays being huge ones.”

Hartslief and Farrer (33) put on 63 for the fifth wicket with Lewis Gregory adding 21 as well.

Linton Terblanche had five Plympton wickets for 39 runs while skipper Simon Ashplant took three for 30.

Sandford were 18 for three after an early going over from Hartslief (4-29) but a stand of 99 between Ryan Glass (60) and Terblanche (50) put the home side in command.

Matt Theedom (51no) was there at the end when the target was passed.

BRIXHAM were given a run for their money by Hatherleigh before beating them by two wickets at Boundary Park.

Brixham only played at 60 per cent of their best according to skipper Richard Ward, which may have been enough to beat lowly Hatherleigh but might not cut the mustard against in-form Barton at Cricketfield Road this Saturday.

Mark Lake top scored for Hatherleigh with 52 not out in an all-out total of176. Jack Cherrington made 32.

Paul Heath claimed three wickets for 34 runs and there were two each for Joe Hyde, Lee Upham and Kyle Schroeder.

Brixham had Schroeder to thank in large measure for getting them over the line as he made 28. His stand of 53 for the seventh wicket with Heath (28) proved decisive.

Although Lake (2-18) and Ian Cockwill (3-34) tried to keep the brake on, Brixham got home with nearly four overs to spare.

BARTON made it four wins on the spin when they defeated Plymstock by five wickets.

Dan Robotham made a top score of 52 as Plymstock reached 202 for nine before their overs ran out.

Barton won at a gallop with six overs to spare on the back of an unbeaten 97 from Tom Drake.

“I was another hard fought result for us on and one that saw us pull away from the bottom half of the table,” said skipper Adam Parker.

“Winning has put us up with the top bunch, which is always a good thing.

Tom Drake batted brilliantly and with Chris Penner batted us out of a hole and won us the game

“Each week we have a different match winner, showing our strength in depth.”

Robotham and Dave Orchard put on 52 for Plymstock’s fifth wicket after they had laboured to 83 for four.

Parker claimed Robotham then Orchard in successive balls on his way to figures of three for 37. Hasan Badat had carbon-copy figures from his spell.

There were late runs from Hallam Kerton, who chipped in with 29 not out.

Barton’s didn’t have it easy at first as Mark Abbott (2-37) and Seb Jordan (2-30) had them stumbling along at 20 for three.

Drake and Chris Penner (35) turned the game with a stand of 156 for the fourth wicket.

Dale Adderley came in at the end and hit three fours in rapid 16 not out which denied Drake his maiden league century. he hit 11 fours and a six during 120 balls faced.

Parker said Brixham may be closer to the bottom than the top, but cannot be underestimated.

“We need to be at the top of our game to come out with the correct result,” he saod. “We have won four in a row now and it would be great to continue that streak.”

Fellow strugglers Braunton and Hatherleigh both lost as well, but Plymstock are little better off as they remain 20 points from safety.

James Nicholls, Plymstock’s vice-captain, said time is running out to get it right.

“There are eight games left to turn our year around, otherwise we are in trouble,” said Nicholls.

“We batted really well to get 200; we had them 20 for three then dropped three match-winning catches.

“At drinks they should have been 50 for five and that would have been game over.

“Really we only have ourselves to blame and it has to turn around else the reality is we are gone.”

PAIGNTON continue their pursuit of Heathcoat and Sandford at the top of the table when they entertain lowly Braunton.

It ought to be a home win, but Braunton have surprised Abbotskerswell and Hatherleigh recently so can’t be written off in advance.

Paignton trounced Abbotskerswell by seven wickets last time out, which leaves them third in the table just a point behind Sandford and nine in arrears of Heathcoat.

Stephen George took four for 28 and George Benton three for 33 as Abbots were bowled out for 177. Take away Guy Harrison-Roberts’ 40 and Ryan Williams 27 and there wasn’t much from the rest.

Mark Smith made 55 at the top of Paignton’s reply, skipper Connor Bryan made 35 and Rob Shergold hit 59 not out against his old club to wrap things up.

Said Bryan: “It was a really good performance and I couldn't have asked for more.

Abbotskerswell know how to play on their wicket, but we got stuck into them early and then didn't give them a chance to get back into the game.”

Abbots were below strength against Paignton and hope to have some of the absentees back against Sandford this Saturday.

“When you are slightly below par against a top side its makes it very tough to win,” said captain Richard Acton.

“We did well to get up to 177 having been 80 for six and it was great to see some of the guys down the order showing some fight.

Guy Harrison-Roberts batted brilliantly with the tail and earn us three batting points.

“Fielding was tough, the pitch seemed to flatten out and Paignton batted well, especially Rob Shergold.

“I felt we were unlucky not to grab another wicket and another point but Paignton did outplay us.”

BRAUNTON were on the wrong end of a five-wicket defeat by leaders Heathcoat which put a temporary block on their hopes getting away from the A Division basement.

Tom Mitcham top scored for Braunton with 37 in a total of 180 for nine.

Mitcham, Ian Roberts (26) and Tom Robotham (25) got the Braunton score up to 126 for four, then Jon Baglow (29no) added late runs.

There were three wickets each for Mitch Baker (3-30) and Jack Menheneott (3-42) and two for Jean Rossouw.

The Heathcoat chase was kick-started by Baker (44) and Sam Smith (37) notching 72 for the first wicket.

There was a brief hiatus when Alfie Huxtable (2-31) and Matt Smith (2-41) put Heathcoat on the back foot at 97 for four. Jason Parr (35no) saw Heathcoat over the hump.

Smith picked up an injury and might not feature away to Paignton this Saturday.

Batter Lawrence May is home from college and almost certainly will play.

Skipper Roberts said ‘bating suicide’ cost his team dearly against Heathcoat.

“We should have made 240-250 without too many problems from 92 for two – 180 wasn’t enough,” he said.