Devon Cricket Board - A Division 2nd XI: Catches win matches says Smith

A Division 2nd XI: Catches win matches says Smith

A DIVISION

SANDFORD skipper Paul Smith said his side only had themselves to blame for letting Braunton take the best of a draw off them.

Sandford were holding on nine wickets down when the overs ran out, 36 runs short of victory.

“Had we taken our catches it would have been a different story,” said Smith.

“We dropped five, they caught everything and that was the difference between the sides.”

Tom Robotham cracked 90 and Alex Hodges 73 – the pair put on 151 – but only Walid Iqbal (18) reached double figures apart form them as Braunton made 199 for five against Sandford.

Paul Smith (36), Ashley Baker (28) and Tom Sparrow (22) made early inroads for Sandford, but Jack Spicer (4-26), Dan Crocombe (2-34) and Mark Johnson (2-30) bowled Braunton back into contention.

Last pair Shaun Fryat and Shaun Cockram saw out the final three overs as Sandford patted back for a draw at 164 for nine.

Barton’s erratic form continued with a seven-wicket drubbing at Tavistock which drops them down to fourth in the table.

Dale Adderley (26) had the only score of note as Jamie Stephens (4-4) finished off what Will Downham (4-30) and Aaron Pethick (2-33) had started.

Barton went from 66 for six to 71 all out as their batters disappeared in quick succession.

Stuart Bowker struck twice early on, but Matt Witcher (21) and Phil Stephens (12no) ensured there were no undue slip ups after that.

Exmouth are 49 points clear at the top of the table following an 86-run win over Sidmouth played on a borrowed ground at Woodbury.

Sidmouth were unable to play at home as their ground had been turned over for car parking during the town’s folk festival.

Sidmouth did well to remove Exmouth for 169 – Dom Bess (4-33) and N Mansfield (3-34) leading the way. Dan Waistell (73) and Stuart Rintoul (29) had the only scores of note.

Sidmouth collapsed to 83 all out after Mike Dibble went for 23 with Mike Cliff taking the fifth, sixth and seventh wickets to spark the collapse.

Cliff ended with four for 21 and Matt Tarry had three for 15 mopping up.

Bradninch are up to third in the table, just a point behind Tavistock in second, following a two-wicket win over visiting Chudleigh.

Skipper Mark Heather made a brisk 82, and Graeme Wilson a patient 21, in Chudleigh’s 151 all out.

Matt Jarrett (2-33) and Suresh Balan (2-42) took early wickets then Mark Perrott (3-4) prised out the stragglers.

Bradninch’s prospects didn’t look too rosy at 60 for seven after Wilson (3-21), Matty Ball (2-47) and Lewis Howard (2-40) had got stuck in. Jarrett had gone by then for 40.

A stand of 73 between Bill Leathes (23) and Balan got Bradninch going and Balan was still there on 59 not out at the end.

Plymouth took the spoils by four wickets in the derby clash with Plymstock.

Martin Gill (3-36) and Rob McPherson (3-55) took the wickets as Plymstock were bowled out for 191. Brace (69) and Baker (52) were the main runs scorers.

Richard Gill’s 60 not out saw Plymouth home after they had seen off the threat from Ross Maffey (3-32) and Lee Savage (3-46).

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