Devon Cricket Board - B Division - Bridgers close gap on leaders

IVYBRIDGE moved within two points of joint leaders Lewdown and Chudleigh when they won by 120 runs at doomed South Devon.
South Devon haven’t had much to celebrate so far in a winless season, but when they had Ivybridge two wickets down for one run on the board it was smiles all round.

Then Sri Lankan Jeewan DeSilva got stuck into the South Devon bowling and it was back to business as usual for the Newton Abbot side.

DeSilva made 136 off 110 balls with 20 fours and two sixes in a total of 255 for eight declared.

Along the way there were stands of 83 with skipper Gareth Andrews (26) and 84 with Kelvin Trent (39).

There were two wickets each for Jonty Parsons and James Hart and three for spinner Cameron Scott at the end.

South Devon suffered the worst start going when opener Ali Wright was bowled first ball by Paul Veale, although the situation did improve while Hart (39) and David Knowles (32) put on 44 for the second wicket.

Hart hung around in the anchorman role until he was fifth to go with the score on exactly 100. When Lewis Derby (16) fell next at 125 the wheel came off with him!

South Devon’s last five wickets went for just 10 runs as De Silva (3-18) and Paul Abraham (3-24) knocked them over for 135.

South Devon are as good as relegated now as they are 79 points behind with 88 to play for.

Ivybridge capitalised on the top-of-the-table clash between Lewdown and Chudleigh being rained off to enhance their own promotion prospects, although skipper Andrews did his best to play down talk of a second successive promotion.

“It was not our best performance of the season, especially in the field, but very happy to have got the win,” he said.

“Another excellent innings from Jeewan, who is in the form of his life.

“Not looking past the next game away to Barnstaple & Pilton, which will be very tough.

“As one of the lesser teams there's no real pressure on us, we are just enjoying our cricket.”

LEWDWOWN were 23 for none against Chudleigh when rain stopped play in the battle of the top two.

It was neck and neck between them going into the game and nothing has changed, other than Ivybridge shooting right up behind them.

It one of the hottest summers for a decade there is a certain irony in rain becoming a factor, which Lewdown skipper Harry Geering recognised.

“It is a shame weather is now taking effect and could play a huge part in the run in,” said Geering.

“It is still in ours and Chudliegh s hands, which shows how consistently we have played all year as we both have had more abandoned games.

“I Just hope the last four games can be played and the results we have worked hard for aren't forfeited due to weather.”

Lewdown’s last four matches are South Devon, Barnstaple, Stoke Gabriel and Ivybridge on the last day, which could be interesting.

Chudleigh wind up with Alphington, Tavistock, Thorverton and finally Shobrooke Park.

THORVERTON are now 20 points clear of the danger zone in the B Division following an 85-run win over fellow strugglers Stoke Gabriel.

Harry Choules hit 70 and there were a brace of 30s from Paul Fielder and Nick Barton in a total of

Early wickets by Will Denford and Jerrry Crouch put Stoke behind the rate, then Jake Choules took four more to wrap up what skipper James Hope described as ‘a very good, all-round performance’.

Thorverton are at home to local rivals Shobrooke Park this Saturday.

Shobrooke were left inactive last Saturday as their basement battle with Barnstaple & Pilton was rained off.

“We tossed up, walked off and before we could get out there it chucked it down,” said Shobrooke skipper Chris Ford.

ALPHINGTON are still struggling to get away from the relegation danger area after dipping out by one wicket at Tavistock.

Alphington were all out for 131 which was a better total than seemed likely when they were 69 for nine.

Pace pair Chris Hutchins (3-27) and Travis Muller (2-28) did the early damage, leaving Shaun Cleave (3-27) to pitch in.

Last pair Nathan Bright (33) and Stuart Shaw (31no) battled gamely to earn Alphington three bonus batting points and some respectability.

Tavistock found runs almost as hard to come by as spinners Paul James (3-21) and Lee Rowe (3-31) slowed them down.

Dave Manning went in t four for two and batted through for an unbeaten 75 which ultimately won the match. Next best was Muller with 13.

Tavvy lost their ninth wicket with seven needed to set up a nail-biter. Hutchins blocked at one end while Manning got the runs at the other.

Defeat leaves Alphington two points behind fellow strugglers Stoke Gabriel, who also lost.

Skipper Shaw remains confident his side can wriggle off the hook while accepting they didn’t do themselves too many favours at Tavistock.

“Looking at pitch I felt anything over 175 would be a good score to defend,” said Shaw.

“ It was difficult to score runs but at the same time we played to many loose shots and gave away cheap wickets.

“I walked out 69 for nine with Tavistock obviously thinking ‘game over’. They had bowled out their front line bowlers and to my surprise didn't have much to back them up.

“Nathan Bright played one of his best innings I had seen. I gave him support the other end .

“I wasn't overly happy with our score but knew with our bowling attack we would always have a chance.

“To get Tavistock nine down with an over to go was a great effort.

“ Unfortunately for us Dave Manning was outstanding with the bat, offering only half chances.

“Again our boys gave me 110 per cent on the field. With a little more discipline to our batting we would have won.”