Devon Cricket Board - Pens have company at top of table

Pens have company at top of table

IT’S getting crowded at the top of the B Division where Ipplepen, Shobrooke Park and Chudleigh are queuing up on 116 points.
Chudleigh and Shobrooke beat Thorverton and South Devon respectively to draw level with Ipplepen, who lost a riveting derby clash with Abbotskerswell bu four runs.
In the first derby date between the sides in the league since 1999, Abbots won the toss, batted and made 196 all out.
Openers Mawgan Penrice (28) and Dylan Nel (30) started well, despite the latter being dropped on seven in the fourth over.
Their stand of 56 ended when Joe Abbott (2-43) removed both inside seven balls.
Paul Thomas (1-22), Ash Harvey (1-28) and Nick Fairbank (2-35) kept it tight with only Abbots’ skipper Charlie Garrett (75) making runs.
Garrett, in his last game as Abbots’ skipper before handing over to Penrice, was run out by a boundary throw from Sam Wakeham.
With Steve Bowden (3-25) mopping the tail, Abbots were bowled out in the last over.
Pens started woefully after tea losing Sam De Friend, Jack Lewis and Abbot all to a fine opening spell from Whitlock (4-23) in a total of 15 for three.
Harris (29) and Fairbank (81) rebuilt and with patience and concentration they added 92
Wakeham aded impetus with 28 off 18 balls, before falling on 148.
At 162 for five in the 38th over it seemed sensible batting would see Pens home.
In four overs Pens lost four wickets for 21 runs, leaving last pair Keith Wakeham and Bowden with 13 to find from three overs.
The target was five from six ball with Bowden in strike. Conor Stanley (2-8) bowled Bowden to leave Pens dejected.
“It was a great game of cricket, that probably highlightd our inexperience in tight matches,” said skipper Wakeham.
“We must learn to think more clearly in these positions, as there will be many more close finishes to come in our division this season.”

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