Devon Cricket Board - A Division: Torquay narrow target to 37 points

A DIVISION

AARON Williams hit an unbeaten century as A Division leaders Torquay clocked up their third 10-wicket win of the season as they trounced Abbotskerswell on the Recreation Ground.

Abbots made a respectable 216 for eight with new signing Richard Lake, an English-qualified South African, hitting a top score of 65 on his debut.

Richard Ashworh made 54 – he and Lake put on 81 for the second wicket – and with Josh Dowling (40) adding anther 87 with Ashworth a big total seemed assured.

A three-wicket burst by Nick Watkin (3-44) and one for Jan Bothma slowed Abbots to 176 for seven and they were glad of Dickie Acton’s 35 for getting going again.

Torquay openers Williams and Matt Thompson then made light work of the chalking off the runs, which took them 38 overs.

Williams wellied 19 fours and four sixes – two off Marcus Green (0-48) and one each off Dowling (0-38) and Acton (0-25) in his 139 while Thompson stroked nine fours in his 69.

Victory leaves Torquay needing 37 points from the last 100 available to go up as A Division champions.

As second-placed Exeter (3rd) and Sandford (2nd) provide the next two rounds of opposition, Torquay still have some work to do.

“Our aim remains to go the season unbeaten, but we have two difficult games between us and that goal,” said Torquay skipper Justin Yau.

“If we can pull off wins over Exeter and Sandford, the two teams right behind us, would be a great way to go up.”

ADAM Gribble performed the hat-trick to speed Exeter to a 77-run win over Alphington.

Exeter – involved in a three-way fight with Sandford and Braunton for the second promotion spot behind Torquay – made 206 for six at the Chronicles.

The key stands were of 73 between Glenn Lammonby (24) and Mike Wikinson (37) and one of 57 between Alec Bosmworth (30) and Cameron Grainger (46).

Paul James (4-42) and Stuart Shaw (2-51) were the main wicket takers.

Alphington reached 107 for three in reply with Alvin Pollard making 35 against his old club and Tom Baxter 29.

Then the wheel fell off as Gribble (5-25) mopped up the tail.

The hat-trick victims were Pollard (bowled), Shaw (caught) and last man James Knight (lbw).

Victory puts Exeter on 159 points, four behind second-placed Sandford who drew with Braunton, which was the perfect result for the County Ground outfit.

Exeter skipper Jon Tipper said it was an ‘excellent win’ achieved under a bit of pressure without the services of run getter Miles Lenygon, who suffered a non-cricket related injury on Friday night that laid him low.

“The top four really applied themselves well on a difficult pitch,” said Tipper.

“Adam Gribble bowled superbly and his hat-trick was the icing on the cake. A great 20 points.”

It was Gribble’s first league hat-trick, although he had taken one in the Devon Cup before.

“It was so long ago I can’t remember when, but it was against Barton,” said Gribble.

ALPHINGTON remain perched over the drop zone, as the draw between fellow strugglers Barton and Shobrooke Park kept them 16 points clear.

Barton made 264 for five with Tom Briggs hitting a top score of 88 and Tom Whittle adding 75. They put on 154 for the second wicket.

Adam Parker made 25 and, Damon Calland 26, Justin Dollow took some tap at the end, but finished the leading wicket taker with three for 75.

Shobrooke ground to a halt at 190 for seven with Jon James opening up with 73 and Pete Turner closing it down with 34 not out.

Parker (3-48) and Calland (2-26 off 13) were the bowlers who caused the difficulties.

Barton moved off the bottom by five points having traded places with Shobrooke.

SANDFORD had to be content with the thin end of a draw despite a brave effort on the chase against Braunton.

Jas Kalsi hit 101 and Tom Mitcham 43 in Braunton’s 209 for five. Stewart Rhodes made 41.

The big stands were worth 106 between Kalsi and Mitcham and 77 between Kalsi and Rhodes. Kalsi helped himself to 13 fours during a 152-ball stay.

Sandford had a go on the chase with Darryn Mortimer (54), Adrian Small (41) and Matt Theedom (34) all chipping in.

The game slipped away when four wickets fell for 12 runs to Harry Booker (3-66) and Andy Paddison (2-53).

Fifty-four to win off the last five overs was too many so the draw was taken at 192 for eight.

CORNWOOD skipper Craig Harris was disappointed but not too downhearted by his side’s 10-run defeat by Brixham.

Harris felt disappointed that the Corns were not at their best in the field, which came back to haunt them in the final totting up.

Having said that Cornwood came away with maximum batting and bowling points – that doesn’t happen too often when you lose – and participated in a great game.

“Regardless of the result, it was a fantastic game of cricket,” said Harris.

“Positives to take were great runs on the board and a strong team effort, but it also leaves you thinking of what could have been?

“We let ourselves down in the field if I am honest, and could have easily put more pressure on their guys early in their innings, which would have affected the overall total.

“Given our less than high standard display in the field, had we exerted more pressure we may have come out with a win.”

Tidy bowling from Mike Wood (3-65) and Matt Butterworth (3-35) had Brixham three wickets down in no time at all and when Mark Orchard went for 39 the visitors looked in trouble.

A stand of 60 between Mark Gilmour (85) and Anthony Marr (44) hauled Brixham round before Kevin Willcock (4-39) got stuck into the lower order.

Cornwood had 57 overs to get the runs, but lost wickets at the wrong times throughout the chase.

Ryan Rickard (52) scored a maiden 1st XI half-century, but lacked consistent support throughout.

The score continued to tick over and going in to the last 10 Cornwood needed around 70 to win.

“Good knocks by Robin Dart (41) and myself (30) got the total to one-a-ball with four balls to go, but after taking too many chances wickets were lost again,” said Harris.

Ten to win of the final over was possible, but Brixham only needed one wicket and got it first ball.

Man of the match Gilmour (4-48) and Marr (3-27) did the bowling damage for Brixham.