Devon Cricket Board - A Division: Braunton block out at Rec

A DIVISION

BRAUNTON blocked out the last three overs at the Recreation Ground to deny the runaway leaders a win in the top-of-the-table clash.

Skipper Justin Yau led from the front with 64, and Matt Thompson made 45, as Torquay clocked up 201 for seven.

Yau and Thompson put on 78 for the second wicket with Yau hanging around unti the fourth wicket went at 14, having put on another 45 with Scott Baldry (23).

Braunton were a bowler down in the absence of former Torquay left-armer Jon Baglow, so ex-Somerset and England player Mark Lathwell was coaxed out of retirement to help.

Lathwell and Andy Paddison had two wickets each while Stewart Rhodes bagged three for 55.

All-rounder Rhodes then held it all together for Braunton with an unbeaten 81 after going in at 17 for one.

Wickets fell steadily to seamer Ian Baker (3-42) and spinner (3-50) as Braunton slipped behind the clock.

Three overs out Braunton shut up shop and patted back for the draw at 187 for eight.

Yau said Braunton had been the toughest side his table toppers had played all season and he wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the promotion mix at the end of the season.

“Full credit to Braunton for pushing us all the way,” said Yau. “I hope to see them challenge hard for the promotion places!

“At 150 for two with 16 overs to go, we should have pushed towards 250, but Braunton bowled well on a flat wicket to restrict us to around 200.

“Stewart Rhodes proved to be as obstinate as always, hitting a cracking 81 not out, which got them really close.

Braunton gave it a fair go and if a bit of luck had gone their way, the may have come away with 18 points.

“Overall we are delighted with the result, we stretched further away from third place and showed a lot of character when we were under the cosh.”

Sandford beat Shobrooke Park by three wickets in the derby clash at Creedy Park to edge away from the pack of clubs chasing second spot behind champs in waiting Torquay.

Sandford were the only one of the four sides immediately behind Torquay to win outright as Braunton drew, Brixham lost to Exeter and Abbotskerswell just held on against Cornwood.

Shobrooke rustled up 193 for nine having started well, faded in the middle then recovered at the end.

Jon James (29) and Peter Steer (22) put on 67 for the first wicket, Simon Ashplant (7-59) wreaked havoc in the middle order, then Pete Turner (42) and Richard Pyle (23) hauled things round from 129 for six.

Sandford had Toby Lochead (55) and Darryn Mortimore (57) to thank for making an 87-run hole in the target.

Lochead and Mike Durrand (15) added 52 for the fourth wicket then Adrian Small (23np) saw Sandford though.

Victoy puts Sandford 17 points ahead of Braunton in third. As for Shobrooke they are languishing on the bottom as Alphington beat fellow strugglers Barton by one wicket to clamber out of the bottom two for the first time in a while.

Skipper Adam Parker top scored with 61 for Barton, while Tom Whittle (44), Tom Briggs (20) and Tom Drake (23no) all chipped in to a total of 204 for seven.

A third-wicket stand of 111 between Parker and Whittle got Barton up to 147 and formed the backbone of their innings.

Spinner Paul James limited the damage from his end by bowling 14 overs for figures of two for 35.

Barton looked well on the road to victory after reducing Alphington to 78 for six in reply - And McVeigh doing most of the damage with five for 46. Damon Calland (3-38) weighed in with wickets too.

Ian Haly had made 33 and that was as good as it had got.

Then Steve Poortman found some form for the first time this season to whack an unbeaten 96 and win the match with an over to go Poortman ended it in style by hitting Calland for six.

Barton are the only side in the division not to win a game yet now that the Alphas are off the mark. Alphington are only four points clear of the bottom two though and still have plenty to worry about.

Exeter – who were sixth – moved up to third in the table on the back of a 94-run win over Brixham.

Brixham must be sick of the sight of Miles Lenygon by now as he followed his 130 in the first game between the sides with another 97 as Exeter piled up 243 for eight.

Lenygon and Rob Holman (84) put on 160 for Exeter’s second wicket after Mike Wilkinson went for a duck.

Holman was first out, followed next ball by Callum Still as Brixham hit back through Mark Gilmour.

Gilmour took six for 36 including Lenyon, who was caught in the cordon.

Brixham were all out for 149 in reply with Mark Orchard (47) and Gilmour (23) making the only scores of note.

The game got away from Brixham in the time it took them to slip from 79 for two to 103 for six.

Rikki Stevens took three for 51, Still had four for 42 and Adam Gribble (2-11) mopped up the rest as Brixham bowed out in the 30th over.

With Sandford coming up this Saturday, it was just the performance skipper Jon Tipper was looking for.

“It was a superb performance throughout,” said Tippper.

“Rob and Miles were exceptional and really set up the win.

Miles is looking as good as I have seen and Rob never looks like getting out.

“It was our best performance in the field this season. We took a couple of excellent catches and bowled aggressively from start to finish.”

Cornwood had Abbotskerswell under the cost at Two Mile Oak, but could not finish them off and had to be content with a winning draw.

Ben Warren marked his 1st XI recall with a top score of 40 as the Corns made 189 for eight.

Chris Parker (40) and new skipper Craig Harris (37) both chipped in.

Abbots’ seamer Rob Shergold took five for 52 – his first five-wicket haul in the league.

Abbots had trouble keeping up with the clock after Josh Dowling (26) and Chris Kelmere (35) were dismissed.

Tight bowling from Andy Bees (3-51), Mike Wood (2-32) and Matt Butterworth (2-30) kept Abbots to 163 for eight when the overs ran out.

Cornwood collected 14 points for the draw, which gives them a healthy 36-point cushion over Barton in the second relegation place.

Abbots captain Josh Dowling said his side have played better this season, but also played worse and had less to show for it.

It was our worst performance in the field as we dropped far too many catches,” said Dowling.

“Nine points when we haven't played good cricket is better then our results at the start of the season, when we probably would have capitulated and been bowled out.”