Devon Cricket Board - A Division - Discombe cracks maiden league ton

OPENER Russell Discombe cracked a maiden Devon League century to set Sandford on course for a 127-run win over Paignton.

Discombe top scored with 126 as Sandford amassed 307 for five with Linton Terblanche and Shaun Hawkins both making half-centuries.

Paignton were never in contention on the chase and slipped quietly to 180 all out.

Victory keeps Sandford second eight points behind leaders Heathcoat as the promotion race continues to bubble away.

Discombe, who faced 130 balls and hit 14 fours, shared a stand of 119 with Hawkins (53) for the third wicket.

South African Terblanche put away five sixes and six fours on his way to 72 off just 35 balls in a partnership worth 106 with Discombe.

Paignton’s found it hard keeping a lid on Sandford with George Benton (0-63) coming off worst.

Stephen George (1-37) and George Yates (1-28) fared somewhat better.

Paignton found Sandford spinners Simon Ashplant (3-30) and Ryan Glass (4-40) hard to get away and trying to up the pace cost them the wicket if in-form Rob Shergold to a run-out.

Connor Bryan made a top score of 43 – he and Chris Kelmere (24) put on 50 for the fourth wicket after Mark Smith had been in and out for 28.

The last five wickets went for 42 runs as Paignton were bowled out for 180.

Sandford visit Barton this Saturday.

Ashplant, the Sandford skipper, said the quality of the win proved the side were genuine promotion contenders.

“It was another excellent performance from us and we did well to beat them convincingly on a good Sandford track,” said Ashplant.

“Russell Discombe again showed his class with a chanceless 126.

“Shaun Hawkins and Russell created an excellent platform for the onslaught into the final 10 overs where Terblanche hit a devastating 72 to set up a total that Paignton never looked like chasing.

“Thanks to tight overs in the middle from the spinners, Paignotn were always up against it.

“This result shows how far we have come this season and should give a good jumping off point as we push for promotion.”
LEWIS Gregory hit a century and kept on going to reach 131 as Plympton defeated Barton to rejoin the promotion race.
Gregory, freed by Somerset to play for his home town club, underpinned Plympton’s batting effort as they amassed 275 for seven.

Barton were all out for 145 in reply with Wes Hartslief taking three wickets and two each going to Gregory and Ryan Skinner.

Victory puts Plympton joint third with Paignton in 175 points and within striking distance of top two Heathcoat (199) and Sandford (191).

Skipper Jeremy Williams, who chipped in with a half century towards the winning total, said it was a game Plympton could not afford to lose.

“In many ways it is in our hands from here, although not entirely,” said Williams.

“We still have Paignton and Heaathcoat to play, so that’s our chance to reel them in.

“It would help if Sandford slipped up once or twice, but unless we keep our side of the bargain by wining our matches that won’t matter.”

Gregory was the anchorman for Plympton, hitting 16 fours during a 141-ball stay and sharing stands of 52 with Andy Walter and 62 with Williams.

Williams said Plympton won’t be falling into the trap of thinking their Somerset star is going get them back into the Premier on his own.

“We are always glad to see Lewis as he brings so much to the team, but we can’t rely on him all the time and ifwe want it we have to work for it.

“Somerset had no Sunday game so he could play for us, but they have just given him a new two-year contact and have plans for him of their own.”

PLYMSTOCK beat Abbotskerswell by eight wickets to take the first faltering step away from the danger zone.

Skipper Dave Orchard took five for 27 as Abbots were hustled out for 129 – Guy Harrison-Roberts (29) and Mawgan Penrice (27) making the only scores of note.

Orchard came on when Abbots were 69 for three and destroyed them all on his own.

George Barnicott kept the pressure on with 10 tight overs costing just 14 runs.

Knocking off the runs was a doddle for Plymstock, who were 99 for one when Ollie Mullbery was dismissed and almost there at 106 when Mark Abbott (32) went.

Dan Robotham (20no) and Callum Cload (7no) wrapped things up.

Plymstock are still in the bottom two, but are only eight points adrift of Hatherleigh, who lost to leaders Heathcoat.

HEATHCOAT’S strength in depth proved too much for relegation worriers Hatherleigh as they eased to a 121-run win at Holsworthy Road.

Heathcoat didn’t look much like a side at the top of the table as they slipped to 157 for nine with only Tom Frankpitt (41) making much headway.

Hatherleigh’s bowlers had the brake on with Rob Fisheleigh (3-13) and Nick Rogers (2-37) particularly hard to get away.

A ninth-wicket stand of 60 between Jamie Drew (19) and Dylan Penberthy (59no) got Heathcoat past 200. A generous portion of 47 extras also helped.

Matt Hague marked his 1^st XI elevation by taking all the Hathereigh wickets to fall in a running total of 10 for three.

Jack Menheneott had four for 13 as Heathcoat skittled Hatherleigh for 86. Only Charlie Neilson and Danny Forrester with a pair of 19 resisted long.

BRIXHAM’S new-found form will face a real test this Saturday when they visit Heathcoat.

Wins over Hatherleigh and now Braunton have propelled Brxham up the table to sixth.

Braunton are bottom and Hatherleigh not far in front of them, so neither result was a surprise.

Heathcoat are 10-2 at the top of the table and it will take some effort on Brixham’s part to win there.

Braunton slumped from 20 for none to 32 for five and were all out for 93 in the 36^th over. Alex Hodges made 19. No one got any more. The best stand of the innings was one of 22 for the last wicket between Hodges and Mike Cashmore.

There were three wickets each for Craig Eaves, Lee Upham and Joe Hyde.

Brixham only needed 22 overs to knock off the runs, seeing off the threat from Alfie Huxtable (2-28) first.

Hyde (21) and George Northcott (19) were the men out at 31 and 50, leaving Andrew Lewin (19no) and Kyke Schoeder (29no) to deal with the rest.

“We were solid in all departments – and when we are good we are very good,” said skipper Richard Ward.