Devon Cricket Board - D Division: Pens need two more points

D Division: Pens need two more points

D DIVISION

HALBERTON & Sampford Peverell were the latest team to fall by the wayside as Ipplepen moved within touching distance of promotion.

Pens’ five-wicket win over H&S mean they need just two points against Countess Wear this Saturday to be sure of going up.

The mid-Devon side batted first and were bowled out for 197 with only Paul Robins (66) and Dan Coles (46) making much impression.

Paul Thomas (4-29) and TomDyer (3-34) claimed the wickets for the table toppers who were led to a five wicket win by Sam De Friend’s 98 and a knock of 35 from Jack Lewis. Fred Harding bagged a brace of wickets for the hosts who are now just eight points above second bottom Whitchurch whom they travel to next!

Ottery St Mary extended their winless run in a home meeting with Feniton but did bank ten points from the draw to keep a margin of 30 points between the sides in the battle to see who goes up with champions-in-waiting Ipplepen.

Feniton batted first, and, in a game hit by rain and reduced to 43 overs per side, stroked their way to a very respectable 228-9.

Martin Swannell top scored with 57, a knock that included five 4s and one 6. Adi Pullin hit four 4s and three 6s in his 42 and there was a fine innings of 31 from Alex Frankpitt.

Rob Johns, Mark Woodman and young Sam Loud, each bagged a brace of wickets.

The Ottery reply was led by Sam Tennent with a sparkling 69, skipper Jody Clements (32), Ed Fowler (27) and Rob Johns (21no), all made contributions as the Otters closed on 194-7.

Norman Bedford claimed 3-38 and skipper Mark Kingdon finished with 3-61 for Feniton who must now seek to make up the 30-point gap between them, and the Otters over the last four games of the season if they are to make a step back into the C Division next summer.

Yelverton retain an interest in the D Division promotion race after they banked 19 points from a 40 run win at Whimple and move to within 31 points of second in the table Ottery St Mary.

But with the games running out, Yelverton will need to be looking to win their last four of Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough, Ipplepen, Countess Wear and first, on Saturday, Feniton.

Their game at Whimple was a lot closer than the final scores suggest. Batting first, Richard West (91) led Yelverton to 180-9. Chris Palfrey claimed 4-13 in 13 overs and Matt Richards picked up three wickets.

Whimple were then on target in the run chase on 133-6 but then lost four wickets for seven runs to be bowled out for 140, the final wicket falling on the penultimate ball of the contest when Matt Richards was bowled. Ian Cunningham ended with 4-33 for the visitors.

Countess Wear were probably saved by the rain at Plymouth Civil, Service and Roborough where they were 135-7 chasing the hosts 198-6 when the heavens opened to wash out any hope of a finish.

Brian Gaylard (79) and Nigel Piddock (49) led the hosts run scoring whilst brothers Kam Singh and Par Singh claimed two wickets each. James Bogue and James Blackmore hit 21 in the reply.

Whitchurch claimed only their second win of the season and that sets them up nicely for their next outing, which sees them entertain the side sat immediately above them in the depths of the D Division, third bottom Halberton and Sampford Peverell!

Jack Hatton (38) and Mark Fogerty (32no) were the principle scores for bottom of the table Bridestowe in an all out total of 167. Neil Tamblin (3-31), Matt Kerswell (2-16) and Joel Heatley (2-51) claimed the wickets for Whitchurch who were then led to a two-wicket win by Billy Barraball (29), Josh Meadows (28) and Joel Heatley (26).

Tom Fogerty claimed a four-wicket haul for the beaten hosts who are now resigned to the drop, 44 points from safety with just four to play and two of those against sides in the top three.

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