Devon Cricket Board - Chudleigh can see escape route

Chudleigh can see escape route

CHUDLEIGH take on Lewdown in a relegation battle at Kate Brook this Saturday still clinging on to hopes of dodging the drop.
What looked like a hopeless position at the half way stage when Chudleigh were 43 points adrift of safety at the bottom is no longer a lost cause.
Three wins in five games have moved Chudleigh within 13 points of safety. And the side they have to get in front of are Lewdown, which makes this Saturday’s game massive.
Chudleigh improved their survival chances no end by beating fellow strugglers Abbotskerswell last time out.
Will Heather made a valuable 42 coming in at 65 for six to haul Chudleigh towards an eventual total of 143 all out.
Jake Dearaugo (3-25) had picked up a couple of wickets with the others shared around.
Only Shaun Newland (27) and Matt Heather (18) had lasted long – and they put on 43 to rescue Chudleigh from 22 for four!
Heather and Rob Clarke (23) posted 67 for the seven wicket before Abbots knocked over the tail in a hurry. Connor Stanley (2-32) assisted the mopping up operation.
Abbots lost the usually reliable Charlie Garrett second ball, but with Stanley (23) and Toby Codd (20) chugging along there seemed no cause for alarm.
Codd and Stanley went 13 runs apart and Abbots started to wobble.
Five wickets went for 14 runs as Will Heather (4-26) got the bit between his teeth.
Tom Andrew and Hugh Whitlock delayed the inevitable during the four overs they batted together, but the damage was done.
Clarke (2-23) and Fahad Khaliq (2-19) did most of the clearing out as Abbots were dismissed for 101.
Delighted Chudleigh skipper Ed Foreman said: “It was a great win for us considering Abbots won the toss and had the best of the conditions.
“We did really well to get to 143 and bowled exceptionally well on a completely different wicket
“Everything was put right from last week and a lot of maturity as shown by all.
“Hopefully we can keep performing to this standard and get our rewards.”
Abbots dropped behind Lewdown into the bottom two and are well aware they are in a fight for survival.
Skipper Richard Acton knows what the problem is. But he can ‘t find a cure for it.
“It was the same story of our batting costing us a game that we really should have won,” said Acton.
“Having limited Chudleigh to 143 we should have chased it easily.
“Our bowlers stepped up once again but no one did the same when we batted.
“It’s still possible for us to stay up but if performances like that continue then we will really struggle.
“This week against Hatherleigh is another must-win game. Everyone knows what is required, we just have to perform now.”

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