Devon Cricket Board - C Division - Pyle MoM for Axminster

AXMINSTER strengthened their grip on a C Division promotion berth after a four run victory at home to Yelverton.

The game certainly was one that had plenty of twists and turns along the way!

Axminster were in deep trouble with half the side out and just 54 on the board, but skipper Tristan Wakeley played a superb innings, finishing unbeaten on 73 as he and Matt Pyle (53) put on 113 for the seventh wicket and Robbie Prior chipped in with 21 enabling the hosts to close on what still looked a below-par total of 218-8.

That vulnerable total looked insufficient as the last over arrived with the visitors needing ten to win and still having two wickets in hand.

Matt Pyle was tasked with handling things for Axminster and he responded in style claiming both remaining wickets, the final one off the last delivery of the day with Sam Farrow taking a smart catch at deep mid-off to begin the home victory celebrations!

A delighted Tristan Wakeley said: “That was a cracking game, one in which we showed we can hold our nerve in tight situations. At different times all looked lost for us, but we showed real character and determination to get the job done.”

The win, coupled with defeats for Ipplepen and Kingsbridge, who both began the day in the top four, leaves the Cloakham Lawn side sitting 14 points clear of third placed Ipplepen with six games to play.

It looks very likely that the Axminster season’s fate will be determined in their next four outings for, after Saturday’s trip to Plymouth Civil Service & Roborough they host first promotion rivals Kingsbridge, then entertain title favourites Bideford before travelling to Ipplepen.

Wakeley says: “They are all tough at this stage of the season, but, we got a real boost hearing of the defeats to Ipplepen and Kingsbridge who we meet in the next four games so we certainly have put our own fate very much in our hands.

“What we need now is every player in the eleven to raise their individual game by a notch or three to help us get over the finishing line.

“We have worked very hard to get where we are, but we now need one last push to be able to sit back in early September and enjoy with real pride, our season’s effort. However, all that will not be possible without one big last push.”

BIDEFORD bounced back from their defeat by Ipplepen with a 124-run win over Plymouth CS&R.

The C Division leaders rattled along to 235 for nine in 45 overs with Dan Barratt (37) and James Ford getting off to a 91-run start.

Jordi Gilmore had a rare failure – in and out for one – but with Al Savage (47) and Ben Brend (21) chipping in a suitable total was posted.

Mike Trevorrow with four for 50 was the pick of the Civil bowlers.

Civil were all out for 111 in reply – no one making more than opener Brian Gaylard with 29.

The last five wickets went for just 21 runs as Josh King (4-22) and Matt Stewart (2-21) mopped up the victims missed by Josh Atkinson (2-28) and Fred King (2-30).

IPPLEPEN were brought down to earth after taking Bideford’s unbeaten record as they lost by 33-runs at Chagford.

Chagford – eight for two early on – recovered to make 244 for five with Divan Marais making 110.

Marais and Paul Penberthy (38) put on 130 them 15-year-old Chris Fitzoy added 39 not out at the end and Luke Mortimore had 24.

The Pens struggled to keep up with the clock despite Rachit Lakhmani making 66 and Adam Peters 24.

Ninety to win off the last 10 overs with six wickets down was too tall an order and Pens meandered to 211 for nine.

Steve Sizmur (3-38) led the bowling effort, backed up by Del Lammonby, Neil Rowlands and Fitzoy with two each.

CLYST St George really have to lift it in the final six games to steer clear of relegation after losing by 60 runs to Dartington & Totnes..

Brad Mitchell made 66 – he and Jamie Palmer (37) hoisted 66 for the fourth wicket – in D&T’s total of 213 all out.

Skipper John Meredith rotated the bowling frequently and found Chris Cooke (2-28) and Jeremy Welland (2-46) the most effective.

Clyst’s recognised batters universally failed to fire and Kevin Coe’s 42 wasn’t enough without help to save the situation.

There were three wickets for Scott Colgate and two for James Howrihane as Clyst crumbled to 153 all out.

Clyst are now 19 points adrift at the bottom of the table and starting to hear alarm bells ringing.

“We seem to play better against the top sides, but not against those are our end of the table,” said Meredith.

“Too many of our top six threw their wickets away and we paid the price for it.

“In our last four games we had played quite well and come up a bit short. Based on that, I expected to beat Dartington and Totnes, which makes losing hard.”

Clyst can’t afford to lose at Yelverton this Saturday as the Moorlanders are the side directly above them.

OTTERY St Mary have their sights set on a top-five finish after beating Kingsbridge by 40 runs to go sixth in the table.

James Pritchard (63) and James Faulkner (46) put on 100 for the fourth wicket in an Ottery total of 284 all out.

Sam Tennant (42) and Lewis Townsend (31) added another 79 and there was top up from John Tierney of 32.

Kingsbridge are had a real go and were 153 for one in reply before Ottery slowed them down.

Two more Jameses – Fletcher (70) and Westlake (45) - got 94 off the target then Will Matthewman (54) added 59 more with Fletcher.

Only then did Ottery start whittling away at the batting. Faulkner picked up four for 28 and John Birch had two for 38 to see Kings all out for 244,

It’s Ipplepen next for Ottery, which is the toughest game for a month on paper.

Positive results against strugglers St George, Civil and Yelverton could turn the top-five dream into a reality.