Devon Cricket Board - A Division - Brixham captain blasts Torquay track

A DIVISION

BRIXHAM captain Chris Lanyon was highly critical of the Recreation Ground track after his side were five-wicket losers in the A Division derby.

Nick Watkin (4-37) and Jan Bothma (4-20) did most of the damage as Brixham were skittled out for 135.

Torquay got there after a struggle – helped no end by the 31 wides Brixham gave them in a total of 57 extras – to make it three wins at the top of the table.

Lanyon came away convinced the track and the toss had more to do with deciding who won than the ability of either side.

“I didn’t think we were outplayed, but we contributed to our own downfall with some rash shots and poor application against tidy, but unthreatening, bowling on a minefield of a pitch,” said Lanyon.

“I don’t think we will play on a worse track all year. With due respect to Torquay, I think if we had won the toss there would have been a different to outcome.

“Had we taken an early couple of wickets I felt we could have worried them a lot.

“Once again our bowling discipline let us down with 57 extras. Without those, Torquay would have been struggling.”

Opposite number Justin Yau defended the Torquay strip, saying it was the same for both sides.

“It was not a classic Torquay wicket, but it was the same for both sides,” said Yau.

“There were runs to be had there if you were prepare to graft for them, which we were.

“I would rather think about all the positives in our performance than gripes out the wicket.

“Our bowling attack was depleted as Ben Passenger was injured, my brother Andrew could not play and Jon Rice couldn’t bowl, although he was able to bat.

“To get Brixham out for 135 was a great effort – and we batted soundly to win it.

“It wasn’t pretty at times, but this time last year we probably would have lost this game with the players we had missing.

“That’s three wins for us now and a great start to the season. It is only a start though and it is important we don’t get carried away just because we are six points clear at the top of the table.”

Anthony Marr top scored for Brixham with 56, but only George Northcott (20) backed him up with a significant contribution.

When Marr was seventh out at 131, Brixham lost their last three wickets for only four runs as Joe Thompson (3-30) helped finish them off.

Marr the bowler struggled to find the right line when he bowled at Torquay and most of the wides were his. His first over was an 11-baller, although he did remove Nick Watkin among them.

Matt Thompson made 25 and Tim Western an unbeaten 20 to see Torquay over the finishing line.

Mark Gilmour took the bowling honours for Brixham with three for 24,

BARTON captain Adam Parker said the front-end batsmen in the side have to take most of the blame for the nine-wicket defeat by Braunton at Cricketfield Road.

Barton were bowled out for 101, which Braunton knocked off with almost 20 overs to spare.

Take out Damon Calland’s 22 and 19 from Tom Briggs, there wasn’t a lot from the rest until last man Tom Porter (14) earned a batting bonus point with three lusty blows to the boundary.

Barton had particular trouble against spinners Harry Booker (3-25) and Andy Paddison (3-11_ who did most of the bowling damage.

Barton did get an early breakthrough when Andy Paddison went for 12.

That was as good as it got for Barton though as Jas Kalsi (59no) and Stuart Rhodes (21) knocked off the rest

“Our batting let us down and it is something we need to look at,” said Parker.

“Batting the 50 overs is crucial and something our batters need to work on.

“It is still early days in the season though and I am sure things will be put right.”

SHOBOOKE Park’s poor start to the season took a turn for the even worse after they were thrashed by 125 runs at Cornwood.

The Corns were bowled out early for 166 – and were grateful to last pair Ben Warren (28no) and Ewan Grewall for notching 45 for the last wicket.

Scott Mansfieled made 29 and acting captain Craig Harris 22, but other wise it was a day for the bowlers with Pete Steer and Phil Anning taking three each and Justin Dollow two.

Cornwood had been 72 for three, but lost three wickets on 92 which left them playing catch up.

Shobrooke collapsed to 41 all out in reply with Mike Wood (5-11) and Aizaz Cheema (5-16) doing the job unaided.

That’s three defeats on the trot now for Shobrooke, who must be fearing history is going to repeat itself.

Twice before they have been promoted into the A Division and both times they went straight back down again.

Shobrooke are rock bottom on 13 points, four behind Barton, whom they play this Saturday, and 12 in arrears of Abbotskerswell.

ALPHINGTON ran out of steam seven over from the end against visiting Abbotskerswell and shut up shop to settle for a losing draw.

Josh Dowling was in fine form for Abbots with 85 as they totted up 205 for eight.

Along the way Dowling put in 65 for the fifth wicket with Chris Kelmere (35) which got the score up to 147 for five.

Paul James took one for 50 from 15 tight overs. Most effective of the wicket takers was Nathan Caton-Robertson with five for 53.

Dave Haysom (45) and Andrew Codling (44) gave Alphington a start, but they slowed up badly against Marcus Green (3-42) and Dowling, whose first 10 overs only cost 29 runs.

At 148 for six with seven overs to go the shutters came down. James (37no) and Andy Wilson (22no) took it safety first to the draw at 182 for six.

EXETER skipper Jon Tipper was unimpressed by his side’s performance in the drawn game at Sandford.

Toby Lochead made 66 in Sandford’s tally of 241 for nine, then Simon Ashplant took five wickets for 48 runs to limit Exeter to 194 for eight in reply.

Exeter have yet to win a game this season – hardly the start they wanted with promotion Tipper’s stated aim – and right now don’t look like winning either.

“It was a poor performance overall, although there were some good individual performances,” said Tipper.

“Sandford weren’t at their strongest with Matt Theedom missing and maybe we underestimated them. Big mistake.

“Sandford showed us what a good side they are and deserved what they got out of the game.

“We cannot afford to turn up expecting to win without putting the work in. That message has to sink in fast.”

Lochead, who smote 10 fours and a six, featured in a stand of 60 for the fifth wicket with Mike Durand (49), Russ Discombe (29) chipped in.

Tipper took three for 47 with the ball but pride of place went to Callum Still’s off-breaks, which earned five wickets for 54 runs.

Darryn Mortimore, whose first nine overs only cost 16 runs, soon had Exeter behind the clock. Alex Bosomorth got bogged down for 75 balls making 25.

Tom Worthington (78) and Still (28) did what they could but 160 to win off the last 20 overs proved too many and the draw was plodded to at 194 for eight.