Devon Cricket Board - Chudleigh take over at the top

Chudleigh take over at the top

IPPLEPEN were knocked off the top of the B Division table when they lost by 47 runs at Chudleigh.
Matt Heather and Shaun Newland both made half-centuries as Chudleigh totted up 178 for eight in 45 overs.
Ipplepen got into all sorts of trouble against Hugh Stronge and Faisel Khaliq as they plummeted to 23 for five.
Sam deFriend led something of fightback, but the damage was done and Pens were all out for 131.
It’s all change at the top now with Chudleigh the new leaders, by two points from Ipplepen. Plymstock drop back to second after losing to Thorverton with Shobrooke Park fourth following the win over Abbotskerswell.
With 11 points between all four of them, it could all change again this Saturday.
“Saturday was a great confidence boost for us,” said Chudleigh captain Ed Foreman.
“We had not been playing well at home recently and needed to change that.
“The only down side was that we lost too many early wicket and had to rebuild which cost us full batting points.
Our bowling performance was superb. I think Ipplepen were too concerned about Faisel which meant they forgot we have other quality bowlers capable of doing damage.
Next we have a tough trip to Axminster with a couple of players missing. “Hopefully we can put a little winning run together and consolidate our place and remain in the top half of the table.”
Heather and Newland came together for Chudleigh at 39 for three and put on 83 for the fourth wicket.
Heather fell to Nick Fairbank (2-42), but Newland kept going to add another 36 with Khaliq.
After Khaliq went to Joe Abbott for 23, Chudleigh chipped and scampered 30 in the last three overs.
Ipplepen’s first five came and went in the initial 10 overs, which left de Friend a job and a half on his hands.
There were modest stands of 24 with Sam Wakeham and 33 with Seb Powell before de Friend departed for 49 of 76 balls.
Jack Wylie (12), Paul Thomas (16) and Keith Wakeham (14no) kept Chudleigh out longer than they anticipated, but the result was never in doubt.
Stronge returned at the end to finish with figures of four for 31.
It was Ipplepen’s second defeat by Chudleigh this season, and came a bit out of the blue for skipper Keith Wakeham.
“A target of 179 felt well within reach on a lifeless Kate Brook track - how wrong we were,” said Wakeham.
“After five uneventful overs we reached 9-0, but in the next five overs, a mixture of better bowling, strong, aggressive appealing, and a couple of decisions that may have gone with us another week, we became 23 for five, and effectively lost the game.
“Our blushes were saved by a classy innings from Sam de Friend and late resistance from the lower order.
“Of our runs, 98 came in boundaries, which shows that the game was there for taking.
“Unfortunately we didn't bat well enough to take full advantage.”

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