Devon Cricket Board - A Division: Exeter give Torquay a scare

A DIVISION

EXETER were one wicket away from being the first team to beat runaway A Division leaders Torquay when the two promotion chasers met on the County Ground.

Callum Still top scored for Exeter with 60, and Mike Wilkinson made 30, as Exeter were bowled out for 188 in the 49th of their 50 overs.

Pick of the bowlers with five for 60 was Nick Watkin, while evergreen Ben Passenger clamed four for 21.

Devon keeper Matt Thompson had an outstanding game behind the stumps with five scalps, which included three stumpings, two of them tricky ones down the leg side.

Torquay lurched from crisis to crisis in their reply – 48 for one became 52 for four then 68 for five and without Joe Thompson hanging around to make 27 the game would surely have gone Exeter’s way.

Exeter skipper Jon Tipper (4-41) kept the pressure on and at it became a blocking exercise for Torquay to preserve their unbeaten record.

Tail enders Jon Rice (60 balls for 16) and Andy Yau (40 balls for 10) got Torquay down to the 51st and last over with two wickets left.

Rice was bowled fourth ball by Andy Mead, which left last man Ian Baker to see out two deliveries to earn a draw at 127 for nine.

Torquay remain odds-on favourites to win the title as they are 59 points clear of second-placed Exeter with 80 to play for.

As for Exeter, they remain second in the table and scrapping with Sandford and Braunton for the second promotion spot.

“It was a great result for us, but with a hint of disappointment that we couldn't get the last wicket,” said Tipper.

“Torquay are an excellent side and we more than matched them in all areas.

“We wanted to be in second after the game which we achieved. Promotion is now in our hands.”

SANDFORD remain in third position, just three points behind Exeter, after routing Alphington by eight wickets.

Alphington were limited to 151 for nine in 50 overs with youngster Nick Aincough making a top score of 46 before he was dismissed with two balls left in the innings. Dave Haysom made 31.

Having been 116 for five, Alphas’ skipper Mark Porter would have been hoping for a few more on the board.

James Palmer took four wickets for 24 runs and Darryn Mortimer had two for 39.

Sandford lost opener Russ Discombe chearply, but a stand of 114 between Matt Theedom (52no) and Adrian Small put Sandford well on course.

Small went to Andy Wilson with 26 needed to win, most of which Mortimer (29no) got in a hurry.

SHOBROOKE Park didn’t have the bowling to defend 212 all out at Brixham and lost by six wickets as their relegation worries worsened.

Jon James (68) and veteran left-hander Richard Pyle shared in a stand of 113 as Shobrooke reached 175 for four, Phil Anning chipped in with 30. Brixham helped by chucking down 50 extras, mostly in wides.

Lee Upham got stuck into the bottom half of the Shobrooke order on his way to figures of four for nine.

Skipper Mark Orchard blazed away for his second league century of the season as Brixham raced to victory.

Orchard finished on 120 not out having given Brixham a bright start in a stand of 69 with Will Matthewman (24).

Justin Dollow took two for 42 while Ben Stockden bowled better than figures of two for 74 suggest.

Four of the five wickets to fall went to Calland (2-37) and skipper Adam Parker (2-37).

Defeat leaves Shobrook rooted to the bottom of the table on 92 points. To reach safety they have to get past Barton (99) and Alphington (110), the side they face this Saturday.

BARTON appear to have their work cut out to avoid being relegated into the B Division for the first time in their history after slumping to a six-wicket derby defeat at Abbotskerswell.

It’s Cornwood away for Barton this Saturday, followed by Brixham (5^th), Sandford (3^rd) and Exeter (2^nd) as they try to wipe out the 11-point gap between them and safety.

Having gone 14 games without a victory, Barton now have to start winning and fast.

Barton’s total of 147 all out at Abbots was better than it looked in difficult batting conditions, but ultimately never enough.

Tom Briggs hit 38 and Damon Calland 34 for Barton. Abbots’ bowler Aaron Hearn took three for 37 against one of his old clubs and there were two wickets each for Rob Shergold and Chris Kelmere.

Abbots read the pitch well and sent out Steve Short to do an anchorman job. His 33 may have taken more than 100 balls, but it was just what was needed under the circumstances.

Skipper Josh Dowling made 37 and Dickie Acton opened his shoulders for a brisk 24 at the end.

CORNWOOD ground to a halt at Braunton where they settled for a draw early in proceedings.

Braunton made a respectable 167 for nine in their 50 overs – Tom Mitcham making 49 and Andy Paddison 38.

Braunton were going great guns at 129 for three, but 139 for seven was a different story after a burst from Matt Butterworth (3-48) got the Corns back in the game.

Cornwood made steady progress to 50 for one at the halfway stage with Robin Dart (25) and Ryan Rickard (24) unbeaten.

Once wickets started to fall – three each for Paddison and Devon prospect Harry Booker – the Corns went into their shell.

A target of 68 to win off the last 10 overs with five wickets in hand held little interest. Jason Hall, back from his four-game suspension pottered along to 20 not-out in a final tally of 129 for seven.

Skipper Craig Harris said he had no arguments about the result, but felt Cornwood were right to be cautious after things went awry when they batted.

“Bowling first our intention was to slow their run rate and pick up wickets at regular times, which we did,” said Harris.

“It was a fantastic performance in the field given the damage Braunton have been doing and some of the quality players they have.

“Andy Bees, Mike Wood and Matt Butterworth bowled fantastically to get through their full spells and extract what little assistance their was in the pitch.

“When we came to bat we set a platform well,and although the scoring wasn't rapid, we had wickets in hand and a chance to go on and chase their score.

“Shortly after drinks we lost a wicket, then lost three more in quick succession which didn't help.

“As a team we felt with the effort we put in we couldn't afford to go away with a loss, so kept the score ticking over to 125 and settled for the draw.”