Devon Cricket Board - A Division round-up

A DIVISION
PLYMSTOCK’S long-awaited return to the A Division ended in disappointment and a five-wicket defeat by Exeter.
But skipper Dave Orchard said there were plenty of positives to come out of a game played on a wet wicket when both sides were short of match practice.
“Another 30 runs, which we are capable of, and it could have been very interesting indeed,” said Orchard.
“We could have done a bit better than 93 as some of the shots we played weren’t great, but we did have Exeter 57 for four at tea.
“Straight after tea we had a very confident stumping turned down against Chris Webb, who went on to make 23.
“Had we got that decision, who knows how it would have worked out?”
After Matt Smith (20) and Dan Robotham (18) went it was downhill all the way for Plymstock at Callum Still (4-4) and Jon Tipper (3-22) ran through them.
Seb Jordan’s four for 32 kept Plymstock interested in the second innings, but Webb and Still (23no) ensured a winning start for Exeter.

PLYMPTON backed up their pre-season talk about pushing for an immediate return to the Premier Division with a crushing 211-run win over Shobrooke Park.
Before anyone a Harewood Park gets too carried away about the outcome, Shobrooke were one point away from being relegated into the B Division last September and don’t seem much stronger this term.
Even so you can only beat what’s in front of you and Plympton did a pretty good job of that.
Skipper Andy Walter (78) and Josh Mailling (75) pounded the Shobrooke attack for a stand of 140 to open up with. Maillng hit seven fours and three sixes while Walter had six fours and a six.
Veteran Pete Turner with five for 39 was the pick of the bowlers before Walter declared two overs early with 252 for seven on the board.
Poor old Shobrooke were promptly hustled out for just 41 in reply with Turner’s eight the best of some sad looking scores.
Pakistani paceman Aamer Hayat took seven for 10 and Mailling two for 18 to set up an early finish.
“It was a great start to the campaign, but we know there are tougher tests to come,” said Walter.
“Shobrooke never looked to be in the running from the start and went from 25 for one to 41 all out.
“The only total to reach double figures was extras!”

CORNWOOD’S new skipper Craig Harris has written off the 37-run defeat by Brixham as a bad day at the office.
With Andy Bees taking five for 36 and Mike Wood three for 31, Brixham were dismissed for 123.
Having been 67 for six at one stage, Brixham did well to get 123. Without Tim Robinson’s 36 they would have been nowhere.
Cornwood fell apart after reaching 84 for five in reply thanks largely to Harris (25) and a whopping 31 wides. Ryan Rickard had been and gone for 16
Mark Gilmour (3-30) and Craig Eaves (2-13) did early damage, leaving Matt Stringfellow (3-12) and Lee Upham (2-11) to polish off the stragglers.
“We always seem to have tight games that swing both ways against Brixham, and it seemed like this was going to be another,” said Harris.
“We bowled with discipline and, for the first game, looked like the had picked up from last season!
“At half way we spoke about doing the job and taking responsibility for our own innings, and sadly we didn't follow through with it.
Too many poor shots on a soft track meant that we lost wickets regularly, which after seeing the opposition bat for 45 overs really was inexplicable.
“That said, Brixham were always coming at us so fair play and credit where credit is due.
“In my opinion its not the sort of game that will have the biggest influence on the end-of- season table, being so early on.
“Taking the positives away from this match we will be looking to set things right next against Shobrooke Park.
“Our enthusiasm for the game is there and we do have the quality, we just need to put it in action.”

ABBOTSKERSWELL’S early season form will be put to the test when they visit Exeter.
While Abbots were beating Braunton by three wickets at Two Mile Oak, Exeter were opening their season with a five-wicket win at Plymstock.
New Abbots’ skipper Richard Lake, while pleased to start with a win, is already looking at room for improvement.
“We only had one stand – Josh Dowling and Mike Pugh’s 61 for the fifth – wicket and could do with batting better in partnerships,” said Lake.
There were lots of chip-ins from Braunton towards their total of 154 for eight, led by Tom Mitcham’s 37 and aided and abetted by Ian Roberts (35) and Alex Hodges (22).
Lake took three for 30 and Marcus Green four for 25.
Jon Baglow (2-30) and Jas Kalsi (2-24) had Abbots wobbling at 32 for four before Dowling and Pugh turned it round. Although there were no real partnerships after they went, with Green making 50 not out it didn’t matter.
Green went in at 97 for seven and finished with flourish, hitting Andy Paddison for four, six, six and finally four to win the game with two overs to go.
Braunton captain Jon Baglow said his side were the architects of their own misfortune in their defeat at Abbotskerswell.
“I wasn’t unhappy with our total as on that track in those conditions it was a par score,” said Baglow.

“We need to bowl straighter and take our catches though. We had them 97 for seven and should have killed them off.”