Devon Cricket Board - Wakeham lashes whirlwind ton against South Devon

Wakeham lashes whirlwind ton against South Devon

IPPLEPEN’S Sam Wakeham had a match to remember as he smashed 137 not after coming in with his side at 79-4 well into the second half of their 45 overs.

Wakeham shared a 103-run partnership with Dave Harris (51) before dominating an unbeaten fifth wicket partnership of 90 with Ashley Harvey (14no).

Wakeham only needed 38 scoring shots, including nine fours and 11 sixes.

Until Wakeham strode to the crease, South Devon had the game under control.

In spite of losing the option of Mike Smith as a bowler – ruled out by a hamstring injury after a single over – the home attack looked as if they would restrict Ipplepen to well less than 200.

The pick of South Devon’s bowlers was David Knowles (3-54). However, all the bowlers suffered at the hands of Wakeham, who only gave one difficult slip chance before getting into his stride.

The home side made steady progress in response with openers Ali Wright (68) and Ryan Maunder (10) putting on 76 for the first wicket.

South Devon had no one who could add real impetus to the chase although there were useful contributions from Sean Day (35) and Jon Martin (30).

Maximum batting points – for reaching 200 – was all that could be hoped for, but the long tail wasn’t quite able to achieve that target.

Harvey (4-34) and Alan Boon (3-48) did the bowling damage for Pens.

Ipplepen – last season’s C Division champions – remain unbeaten at their new level.

South Devon, who dropped from joint second to fifth, travel to sixth-placed Ivybridge this Saturday, where they will run into former player Gareth Andrews, who is skipper there.

Jon Martin, the South Devion skipper, said losing Smith to injury on a day when Neil Hancock, Neil Maud and Richard Beaumont were all missing from the attack was a setback he could have done without.

“But we were going along nicely until Wakeham came in and chanced his arm,” said Martin.

“Other than a few early chances that didn’t go to hand, he hit the ball as clean as anyone I’ve seen and was the difference.

“Another day the chances go to hand and we are chasing 170 instead of 270.

“Chasing that total was always going to be a tall order without three of the top-six batters.

After a good start we were always struggling to keep up with the rate and lost regular wickets.

“I have been around too long to not complain when things don’t go your way.”

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