Devon Cricket Board - A Division reports & reaction: Plymstock plight deepens

BARTON stay hard on the heels of the top three in the A Division after battling to a one-wicket win over Brixham at Cricketfield Road.

Andy Lewin hit 71 and skipper Richard Ward made 52 in a Brixham total of 228 for nine.

Key for Brixham was a stand of 60 for the seventh wicket between Ward and Chris Sleep (30) after Lewin had departed lbw.

There were three wickets each for Barton skipper Adam Parker and overseas star Hasan Badat.

Barton seemed in command at 140 for four after a stand of 91 between Stephen Lewis (34) and Parker (59) had just ended.

Kyle Schreuder (3-52), Lee Upham (2-30) and Craig Eaves (2-37) then bowled Brixham back into the game.

Tom Porter geed things up with a handy 23, but it was left to Stuart Bowker (11no) and Willy Wyatt (5no) to get over the line with five balls to come.

It’s Plympton next in a fourth-against-fifth clash which Barton can’t really afford to lose.

Adam Parker, the Barton captain, said the win over Brixham was ideal preparation for Plympton.

“As predicted it was a hard game and we fought really hard to come away with the win.

“Once again we showed our strength in depth with the bat and our lower order batted brilliantly to get us over the line.

“A great result to take us into a big game against Plympton.”

Brixham captain Richard Ward said little errors can make a big difference in tight games.

“Fielding was the difference,” said Ward.

“We batted in a fairly similar manner; we both bowled around par but we leaked 15 runs and they saved 15. Game over.”

It’s going to be a big weekend in the top half of the A Division table as third-placed Paignton have the chance to gain ground on Sandford, who are immediately above them in the table.

PAIGNTON will go into the game in winning form having dispatched bottom side Braunton by 129 runs.

It wasn’t entirely plain sailing for Paignton, despite making a hefty total of 282 for seven.

The top three failed to fire and it needed some positive batting from skipper Connor Bryan, Chris Kelmere and Richard Ashworth to move things along.

Bryan (61) put on 55 with Rob Shergold (15) and 52 with Kelmere (74), who then notched 82 with Ashworth.

Ashworth was last man out with 10 balls to go, having put on 49 with Ollie Higgs (29) in four overs.

Lawrence May, the former Barnstaple all-rounder who moved to Braunton, was the leading bowler with four for 66.

Braunton, scrapping hard to stave off relegation, started positively with Ian Roberts (28) and Tom Mitcham (28) instrumental in getting them to 78 for one.

Losing Mitcham then May without addition didn’t help, but the real problems were to come.

Kelmere (3-44) and Connor Ashworth (4-31) cut down the Braunton middle order as 105 for three became 113 for six.

Alfie Huxtable resisted, but a second collapse which saw three wickets go for another eight runs contributed to Braunton being all out for 153.

Winning skipper Bryan said spinners Ashworth and Kelmere had turned the game Paignton’s way.

“A good 20 points for us - I couldn't have asked for anymore,” said Bryan.

“The spinners reduced runs and also took wickets at vital stages.

“It was good for myself, Richard (Ashworth) and Chris (Kelmere) to get some runs under our belts as we have some big games coming up when we will need everyone to come together and perform.

“That's simply what's happened these last few weeks and we have produced a good run.”

Braunton skipper Ian Roberts said he believed it would have been a different game had his side batted first, not that they helped themselves.

“I would have loved to have won the toss,” said Roberts.

“Paignton batted and bowled better than we did, but I was disappointed we didn't get 225.

“There were some really poor shots myself included.”

Braunton are 25 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table and time is not on their side.

Roberts said the players continue to believe they can scramble to safety.

“The games are just getting bigger, but we aren’t giving up yet and the boys still believe they can do it,” said Roberts.

PLYMPTON got back in the A Division promotion race thanks to a three-wicket win at Hatherleigh.

Hatherleigh made 235 for eight in their 50 overs built around stands of 61 between Gareth Tidball (31) and Rob Chapman (23) and 71 between Tidball and Jack Cherrington (25).

Danny Forrester kept the runs coming later with a solid 83.

Wickets were hard to come by, although youngster Jamie Lee (4-26) did well.

There was drama at the end of the innings when batters Ian Cockwill and Forrester collided while taking a run.

Cockwill was knocked unconscious and took no further part in the game.

Plympton got home with nearly four overs to go, although they needed a helping hand at the end after getting behind the clock.

Jez Williams (66) and Ross Farrer (52) moved Plympton in the right direction, then Nick Rogers (2-28) and Ryan Davies (3-41) got the brake on.

Hatherleigh had to re-organise when Gareth Tidball fell in the field, suffering a dislocated shoulder. Rogers went into keep wicket with club chairman Marc Brock coming on as a sub.

James Carr (47no) played the match-winning innings Plympton needed to get over the line.

After two defeats Plympton were in danger of drifting away from the top three. This win keeps them within 15 points of third place.

Skipper Williams said Hatherleigh took a lot of beating, both with bat and ball.

“Our bowlers grouped together and toiled away on a hot afternoon to restrict them to 235 on a flat wicket and lightening quick outfield,” said Williams.

“Their task wasn't helped by Wes Hartslief turning his ankle over in his fifth over and not bowling any further. So I was really pleased with their efforts.

“Jamie Lee again showed his potential by picking up four for 16 off his 10.

“We chased the total down effectively Josh Mailling (23), myself, Ross Farrer and James Carr chipping in with the majority of runs.

“Ross really steadied the ship after we had a bit of a wobble in the middle order, then James Carr who came in and finished the job off with some superb hitting at the end.”

Weighing up where it went wrong, Hatherleigh captain Mark Lake said: “We were probably 30 light with the bat and our fielding display was poor.

“Dropping Williams on single figures was a big miss. If we had taken that I think we would have won comfortably.”

HEATHCOAT go into Saturday’s trip to relegation worriers Hatherleigh in top form after thrashing Plymstock by 251 runs.

The form lines always suggested Heathcoat would win, but the size of the drubbing was still a shock.

Heathcoat amassed 351 for eight in their 50 overs with Justin Williams hitting a top score of 99.

Williams shared a stand of 112 for the fifth wicket with Tom Frankpitt, who chipped in with 71.

Mitch Baker got 43 at the top of the order and there were useful contributions from Steffan Jones (24), Ned Menheneott (31) and Barney Goss (23).

Jones and Jamie Drew with three wickets each helped skittle Plymstock for 100 in reply.

Williams mopped up the stragglers with two wickets for no runs at all.

Dave Orchard made 33 – he and Steve Coomer (10) – put on 54 for the sixth wicket – but only two other players reached double figures.

Five batters didn’t make a run between them – and two got out first ball.

Heathcoat skipper Sam Smith said his side were workmanlike from first ball to last.

However, the Heathcoat captain said there was no room for complacency as Plymstock clearly under-performed in some areas.

“It was a good batting performance nice to see two of the top five scoring big,” said Smith.

“Justin williams was back to his best. Hopefully he and Tom Frankpitt can continue their form through the remainder of the season.

“We bowled well however they performed poorly and it was a must-win game in which we did a good job.

“Roll on next week. The top remains tight!”

Defeat leaves Plymstock in dire straights, 21 points adrift of safety with only two wins to their name all season.

It all adds up to a major headache for new skipper Orchard, who has replaced Seb Jordan as Plymstock try something new in the battle to stay up.

Team-mate George Barnicott said Orchard did his bit with bat and ball, but the rest of the team have to contribute as well.

“Mark took five wickets, but they scored loads of runs,” said Barnicott.

“From 11 for three it was a struggle for us. Mark and Steve Comer put together a good partnership, but that was it.

“Once Mark got out the team collapsed.”

Only nine points separate the top three of Heathcoat (179pts), Sandford (171) and Paignton (170).

As Sandford entertain Paignton this Saturday, it is inevitable the situation at the top will change.

Sandford defeated Abbotskerswell by five wickets in the final over of a game that wasn’t as close as it seemed.

Abbots recovered from 72 for five after an early going over from Jamie Palmer (2-47) and Matt Theedom (3-30) to make 201 all out.

The rot stopped with skipper Richard Acton (83) and Sean Green (49), who shared a stand of 104 for the sixth wicket.

Ryan Glass (3-30) picked up wickets at the end.

Sandford made 108-run dent in the target thanks to an opening stand between Russell Discombe (56) and Richard Tucker (50).

Theedom (21no) and Glass (17no) teamed up at 1167 for five to knock off the rest.

Sandford skipper Simon Ashplant said it was another strong performance, with just one thing missing.

“We did well to restrict them to 200, with Ryan Glass and Matt Theedom both bowling well at the death,” said Ashplant.

“Richard Tucker and Russell Discombe batted well for their 50's. It would be good if we could begin turning these starts into hundreds.”

Abbots captain Richard Acton said there were positives to be taken from the game into the cruncher with fellow strugglers Plymstock this Saturday.

“We came away with only six points but that was more than we looked like getting for much of the match,” said Acton.

“Having won the toss we expected to score more than 201 on what was a very good pitch. Having been four wickets down early that score was a good recovery.

“Sandford got off to a flyer, playing very attacking shots on a pitch they know well.

“After we missed a few chances early on we did well to pull them back to 170 for five after they were 100 for none.

“I was very pleased with the spirit we showed in the field on a hot day when heads could have dropped early on.

“I feel we gained some confidence as a team which will help in our key match with Plymstock.”