Devon Cricket Board - A Division 2nd XI

A Division 2nd XI - May 7

A DIVISION – MAY 7

SANDFORD turned up three players short at Barton and were beaten by eight wickets in a match which only lasted 36 overs from start to finish.

   Availability issues in the 1st XI had a knock-on effect for the 2nd XI, who had to go with what they had and hope for the best.

   “It was a calamity,” said Sandford captain Paul Smith. “A combination of weddings, holidays and the overlap from the football season meant more than 20 players were not available throughout the club.

   “The first team had three or four of ours for their game, which had to be the priority.

   “If you don’t fulfil a 2nd XI game the 1st XI can lose points, and that is the last thing we wanted to happen.

   “The decision was made to go with whoever was left in the name of the greater good.

   “We are not alone having these sorts of problems. Barton were one short as well!”

   Barton’s acting captain Mike Lievesley, who was deputising for Jim Parker, only realised he was one short when he did a head count in the dressing room before the match started.

   By mistake he had written his own name on the teamsheet twice!

   Pete Gartrell and Lievesley had three wickets each as Sandford were skittled out for just 60. Veteran Nigel Ashplant ran out of people to bat with on 24 not out.

   Dave Palmer (27) and Adam Last (15no) sorted out the most perfunctory of run chases.

   Chudleigh held out for a draw at Exmouth, where a target of 239 to win was always beyond them.

   Stuart Rintoul (76), Jason Matthews (63) and Miles Lenygon (59) made the bulk of Exmouth’s 238 for six.

   Mark Heather (3-22) and Graeme Wilson (2-59) took Chudleigh’s bowling honours, such as they were.

   Heather then top scored with 70 as Chudleigh replied with 164 for eight. Barry Griffiths – a new arrival from Chelston – had 21.

  Pick of the bowlers was Matt Tarry with three for 28. Pat hall had two for one.

   Bradninch were a man short away to Braunton, but had enough firepower to win a tense game by four runs.

   Andy Nicholls (52) and Rob Acton (35) put on 53 to get Bradninch going and with Derrick Fone chipping in with 23 they reached 157 for eight.

   Braunton ran into early trouble against Phil Chappell (3-34) and Luca Fencl (5-45) with Mark Mitchell (22) have the best of a sorry set of scores in a running total of 76 for seven.

   Walid Iqbal (48) and Wayne Manning (24) led a rearguard action which took Braunton up to 140 for nine

   Bradninch were relieved to see the back of Chris Bridgen (17) as he and Iqbal had the target down to five to win.

   Sidmouth got behind the clock on the chase against Plymstock and were forced to settle for a losing draw.

   There were runs from start to finish for Plymstock in a total of 228 for nine, anchored by an opening stand of 129 between Jason Williams (93) and Duncan Brace (50). Rob Walker was 55 not out at the close.

   Sidmouth were 172 for six when their overs ran out, Tom Overthrow top scoring with 57. Angus McVeigh chipped in with 35 and Ben Robson 34. Ian Whalley (4-39) was the pick of the Plymstock bowlers.

   The game was reduced to 42 overs each by bad weather, which worked in Plymstock’s favour according to Overthrow.

   “When it rained we had an early tea, after which Plymstock went out for four overs and threw the bat at everything to score 60 very quickly,” said Overthrow.

  DEBUTANT Gareth Hart (ex-St Just III’s captain) hit a match winning 49 not out as Plymouth 3rd XI beat Tavistock in the final over at The Ring.

   Tavistock reached 45 without loss, then Nick Goodchild fell for 32 (having been dropped on 0) but Tavvy continued on to 75 before the next wicket fell - a fine catch by Hart at point off Phil Barrow (2-48).

   John McGahey survived a difficult one-handed chance off Barrow’s bowling and rode his luck throughout for 37. Martin Gill proved very frugal (his 29 for two off 13 included two sixes).

   Stephens batted maturely for 45 in a total of 183 for seven.

   Jon Varcoe and Andy Sewell put on 34 for the first wicket.

   Varcoe batted very well for a fine 54 before being Dave Jeffery (3-33) removed him.

   Useful knocks from Joe Cunningham and Al Stewart (24) kept Plymouth in the game but the run rate rose steadily.

   Hart continued to chip away until 12 was needed off eight balls. Barrow hit a boundary leaving eight to win off the last over.

   Hart didn’t over complicate matters by hitting the first two balls of the last over for a straight six followed by a boundary.

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