Devon Cricket Board - Lewdown one win away from safety

Lewdown one win away from safety

LEWDOWN’S A Division survival is going to hinge on beating Hatherleigh this Saturday in a West Devon derby as the relegation battle goes right to the wire.
Abbotskerswell (139pts), Chudleigh (148) and Lewdown (152) occupy the bottom three places and two of them will go down.
While Lewdown are battling it out with Hatherleigh, Chudleigh face Plympton and Abbotskerswell entertain Brixham, who beat Lewdown by 88 runs in the penultimate round of matches.
There are any number of permuations from the last batch of games, but only one that matters to Lewdown captain Harry Geering.
“We win, we stay up,” said Geering.
“It's going to be tense so a big effort is needed.”
Brixham accrued 280 for nine in their 50 overs with former Devon fast bowler Mark Orchard showing his all-round talent with 99.
Orchard was run out off the last ball of the innings trying to reach a maiden A Division ton.
Along the way he shared a stand of 60 with Jordan Gregory (21) and another of 96 with Chris Sleep.
Dave Ball was the pick of the bowlers with four for 28.
Lewdown were all out for 192 in reply their last over – youngsters Tom Pengelly (49no) and Tallon Burns (42) leading the way with the bat.
Geerring made 33 and Gary Sizmur 30.
Orchard’s three for 38 led the Brixham bowling effort. He was supported by veteran spinner Gary Spencer with two for 22.
It looks like a pretty clear-cut Brixham win, but Geering said it could have been different
“We didn't help ourselves by, dropped Orchard and Sleep in single figures, which probably cost us 100 runs and the game,” said Geering.
“It was not ideal having to bowl injured people or for 10 overs whether they are bowling well or not due to injuries and holidays.
“The lads who have come in have done well and the experience will make them better players for next year.”

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