Devon Cricket Board - E Division - Upottery give Babbacombe a scare

UPOTTERY slipped to opening day defeat when edged out by just eleven runs at home against Babbacombe.
The South Devon side made the most of a splendid batting track to post an imposing 295-3.
Player-coach Andy Kingdon hit a ton, Mile Pugh fired 80 not out and Paul Sutherland chiped in with 46.
Dan Broom, Stuart Drew and Andy Pulman each claimed a wicket for the villagers who then made a great fist of the run chase before coming up just short.
The reply was led from the opening slot by Gary Kennard with 51. Ryan Pulman chipped in with 41, but it was the innings fro the number six berth of Mark Joyce that got Upottery so close.
Joyce was joined for the final wicket by sipper Matt Frost and, with two overs to go 20 were needed to force victory. Joyce, who had earlier clubbed four successive sixes, and the skipper chalked off nine of the required runs before Joyce was out for a splendid 76 with Upottery just 11 runs short on 284 all out.
Kingdon earned his corn with three for 53 while there were two wickets for Pugh, Steve Broad and Tim Goodwin.
Skipper Frost said: “I put them in and when they were half way through I felt we’d be chasing a very gettable score. However, they really went for it in the latter part of their innings and I sensed at tea that one or two of our lads felt we’d got too much to do. We batted so well, but ultimately came up short because we were not able to put together partnerships like they had done earlier in the day. There are plenty of positives for us to take from the game and we can look forward to Saturday’s big derby with Yarcombe with plenty of positivity.”
Upottery will have a number of players back for the Yarcombe game after they missed the opener being on a stag weekend!

WHIMPLE were edged out in their first game in C Division when beaten by one wicket at home by Yarcombe & Stockland.
Batting first Whimple closed on 202-9 which was a respectable score given that they had been 42-4! Kev Thompson (95) and Luke Whitton (43) were the principle scorers.
Yarcombe had half their team back in the pavilion with 100 on the board, but scraped home with their last pair at the wicket. Phil Hope (2-23) was the main wicket taker and three of the Yarcombe wickets were run-outs!
Whimple skipper Ben Silk said: “I felt we were 40 runs short of a decent total.
The Whimple outfield is in great shape for this time of season and the ball races to the line. I guess from 42-4 I have to be pleased with maximum batting points, but I’d have like to have had more o the board for them to chase.
“Had we done that we’d have won.”
On Saturday Whimple travel to Kenn. Silk says: “We need to put the opening day defeat behind us and get on with the job of making a good start to life in this section. I want us to get back up to the D Division as soon as possible, but for us to do that we are going to have to learn how to cope in this division.”
Whimple will be able to call on the services of three players who did not feature in the opener when they go to Kenn. Certain to play is Paul Gillard who was at a wedding on Saturday whilst new signing Henry Gordon-Lennox (ex-Chagford) will make his debut and the club also hope to have the registration completed of a doctor at Exeter Hospital in time for the first away trip of the season.

KILMINGTON were beaten at home by Kentisbeare in a high scoring affair.
The Mid Devon side batted first and posted a commanding 292-7.
However the home team took up the challenge led by Adam Culley with a splendid unbeaten 95. Rob Meakings was the best of the rest with the bat as he hit 54, but the reply closed on 256-5 with Kilmington 36 runs short.
The tables were turned between the clubs at 2nd XI level with Kilmington winning by six wickets.
After Maurice Bevis and Jim Smart both bagged braces of wickets to restrict the home side to 255-7, passed for the loss of just four wickets thanks to Johnny Tattershall’s wonderful 98 and an unbeaten 82 from Martin Hoscroft.

ALEX Sparkes hit his maiden century as Topsham St James triumphed in a closely fought match over local rivals Kenn.
Opener Mike Davison fell after accelerating the run-rate for an excellent 41. Topsham debutant Ed Baxter joined Sparkes at the crease and Sparkes raced away past his 50 on the way to his massive score.
Baxter took advantage of some short bowling, but was eventually caught.
Jonny Horne, returning for one game this season, added some impetus with quick running and soon the scoreboard was racing.
Sparkes hit his maiden ton, characteristically punching the air, and then kicked on again; not satisfied with a mere 100 he raced onto 132 and Horne cracked a lightning 54 off 25 balls to take the Saints past 260.
The score had been posted, but with that many runs on the board the bowlers knew the wicket was run-friendly and it would be hard going - and so it proved to be.
Ross Treleaven bagging a wicket early on as Kenn attacked from the off. Joe Mcshane then had one caught, but the run-rate never slowed as the ball raced away on the lightning outfield.
Horne snaffled a well deserved wicket, well held by Rhys Beauchamp behind the stumps.
Brian Jeary took two quick wickets to put Kenn under pressure at 102 for 5, but they regrouped and fought back against the Saints with Matt Wannacott the chief run getter for Kenn.
Topsham rotated their bowlers until McShane made the breakthrough with 2 wickets in one over followed up by a wicket for the skipper from another catch by Beauchamp.
McShane had another caught off his bowling to finish with 4 wickets. Brian Jeary finished the game off with his third wicket of the match.