Devon Cricket Board - C Division: Axe Men edge closer

AXMINSTER moved a big step closer to promotion to the third tier of the Francis Clark Devon league with a 29 run win at Plymouth Civil, Service and Roborough.

Axminster skipper Tristan Wakeley dug his side out of what could have been a problem, hitting 82 to close the innings on a respectable 185-8.

Spinner Gary Larcombe was introduced as third change and helped himself to three wickets for 26 runs as the home team were bowled out for 156.

A delighted Wakeley said: “It was not easy batting on that surface. We had to dig deep and I reckon more upper body parts were struck this week than in the past five or six weeks put together.”

With five games to go Wakeley is clear what his side need to do to get promoted.

“We now have to focus very clearly on the next game. Yes, the next three are against the sides also chasing those prized promotion places. However, I want the team to be clear about the game that’s next, being the most important one, whoever we face.”

That next game is fourth-placed Kingsbridge who will have their own promotion hopes ended if there’s a home win at Cloakham Lawn.

CHAGFORD need to beat Ottery St Mary this Saturday to halt their slide down the table after slumping to a nine-wicket loss at Dartington & Totnes.

Will Gornall led the bowling effort with three for 18 and there were two wickets each for Bertus Loots, Jamie Howrihane and Ryan Stevenson as Chagford were bundled out for 99.

Divan Marais (19) had the best of a sorry set of scores.

Loots then slammed 65 not out in a hurry to speed D&T to victory inside 18 overs.

Chagford failed to earn any points at all and are now just 22 points off the drop zone with thoughts of promotion gone.

Dartington are one of the sides below Chagford in the rankings, but skipper Harold Stevenson is confident they are on the up after a back-to-back wins.

“We have a good enough side not to be in trouble in the first place and I hope we will be okay from here,” said Stevenson, who takes the side to Bideford this week.

CLYST St George skipper James Meredith has spelled out the situation to his team after a 17-run defeat at Yelverton left them 15 points adrift in the basement.

“The writing is on the wall and we need to win three of the last five to stand a chance,” said Meredith whose next test for the team is Ipplepen at home.

Yelverton made 245 all out built around a stand of 113 for the fourth wicket between Steve Luffman (53) and Richard Goldsby-West (57).

There were two wickets each for Mike Johnson, Chris Ferro and Jeremy Welland.

Clyst’s target was reduced to 202 to win in 37 overs after a rain break, and while Meredith (56) and Chris Cook (31) were out there it looked on.

Meredith’s demise swung the game back towards Yelverton, who held Clyst to 185 for nine in reply.

OTTERY St Mary skipper Jody Clements believes his side have the credentials to finish in the top four after beating promotion-chasers Ipplepen.

Ottery are fifth now with 21 points to make up on Kingsbridge for fourth place with a hundred left to play for.

Having beaten Ipplepen (3^rd), Kingsbridge (4^th) and Axminster (2^nd) in the past month, Clements is entitled to feel confident.

“It was another big win over a top-four side,” said Clements.

“Winning the toss and batting second was ideal on unsettled day.

“It was a really good run chase by our batsmen to get to 223 for loss of only three wickets.

“Everyone chipped in again, showing we've got a good balance and not reliant on only one batsman.

“We are motivated to finish well this year, unlike last year when we faded while chasing a top-five finish.

“There is a bit of a gap to third and fourth, but we're keen push towards as high a finish as possible.”

Pens made 269 for eight with Dave Harris (80) and Jack Lewis (78) pointing the way with a stand of 115 for the third wicket. Sam Wakeham chipped in with 50.

Ottery were 93 for one Dan Flower (35) got out, leaving Lewis Townsend (65) to continue adding 50 more with Sam Tennant.

Jack Pritchard (34no) and Alex Thurgate saw Ottery over the line with seven wickets in hand.

Pick of the Pens’ bowlers with seven tidy overs for 27 runs was Keith Wakeham.

BIDEFORD came unstuck in the rain at Kingsbridge where they were six-wicket losers on run rate.

James Ford’s men stay top of the table, but their lead has been trimmed to 20 points over second-placed Ipplepen.

Josh King slammed 104 of just 63 balls with 13 fours and six sixes – that’s 88 in boundaries – as Bideford made a sizeable 302 for five.

Dan Barrett (60) and Jodi Gilmore (28) put on 80 for the second wicket then King and Matt Shepherd (47) added 123 for the fourth.

Neil Peach (1-34),and Bhanu deSilva (1-33) were cheap, James Rosewarne (0-88) went the distance and Chris Bowles (2-29) picked up a couple of wickets.

Kingsbridge lost daSilva (18) and Will Dorey (0) reaching 32 for two in the seventh over, then got on with it!

James Fletcher with 88 off 87 balls and Angus Watson with 16 fours in his 87 off 71 put up 165 for the third wicket.

When the rain came in the 32nd over Kingsbridge were ahead of the run rate at 227 for four.

“It was an excellent win considering how the first half of the match went,” said skipper Fletcher.

“We had a bit of luck with the rain and a revised target, but I thought we chased exceptionally well.

“It has given us a huge boost and put us in high spirits for the match against Axminster, which is going to be crucial.”