Devon Cricket Board - Torquay win again + Barton battle + Hall depressed

Torquay win again + Barton battle + Hall depressed

A DIVISION – WEEK SEVEN

TORQUAY captain Justin Yau was happy to win ‘ugly’ in the top-against-bottom clash with Alphington at the Chronicles.

Table-topping Torquay were always favourites, especially after skittling out Alphington for 139.

Alphington didn’t make it easy for Torquay – Paul James bowled 14 overs for 27 runs in a containing role – but with Yau making 27 not out and Nick Watkin an unbeaten 30 they got there in the end.

“It wasn’t our greatest performance of the season, but to win by a decent margin when not at your best is a sign of a good team,” said Yau.

“Our bowling and fielding wasn’t as good as it has been, but we still took all 20 points.

“That’s six wins in seven starts and no losses yet, which is a great start to the season, but nothing else.

“We have to keep pulling in the wins and see where we are in middle of August.”

Spinner Jan Bothma had four for 24 and seamer Ian Baker three for 45 as Torquay dismissed Alphington one ball from the end of the 49^th over.

The principal stand was worth 47 between James (38) and Andrew Codling (27) for the fourth wicket.

Torquay knocked off the runs with eight overs to spare with Watkin and Yau making the last 72 needed for victory

Earlier, Aaron Williams (22) and Matt Thompson (23) got Torquay up to 67 for two.

ABBOTSKERSWELL were brought down to earth after their 10-wicket win over Exeter when Sandford knocked them over.

Chris Kelmere was Abbots’ leading run getter with 81 in a total of 195 for seven. Darryn Mortimer led the reply with 73 as Sandford won by four wickets .

Kelmere played the anchorman role as Josh Dowling (29) and Marcus Green (42no) batted with him in stands of 56 and 62 respectively.

Kelmere faced 114 balls and smote 12 fours and two sixes while he was there.

Green got on with it as he had six boundaries in a 41-ball stay.

Pick of the Sandford bowlers with four for 66 was Jamie Palmer.

Mortimer did a similar job to Kelmere when Sandford batted, towing the rest along with him.

Matt Theedom (38) and Adrian Small (21) put on 45 for the third wicket, then Mortimer took over. Toby Lochead (25), Shaun Hawkins (14no) and Mike Durand (15no) proved the support.

Green got Mortimer out after he faced 66 balls, having hit six fours and three sixes. Durand and Hawkins chalked off the last 31.

BARTON claimed a winning draw in the Bay derby clash with Brixham to move out of the bottom two in the table.

Skipper Adam Parker set the right example by hitting 51, and with Tom Drake (34) chipping in and Brixham giving away 35 extras a total of 186 all out was posted.

Brixham shared the wickets around between Craig Eaves (4-46), Adam Castle (2-33) and Mark Gilmour (2-55).

Barton must have sensed a first league win of the season on the cards after reducing Brixham to 16 for four then 35 for five. Then came the fightback.

Chris Lanyon (54) and Richard Ward (1) put on 50, then Gilmour (43) and Joe Hyde (11) racked up 40 more

Tom Porter (4-39) and skipper Adam Parker (3-40) had Brixham eight wickets down with an over to go and a draw looking likely, Hyde was run out off the penultimate ball of the game, which left last man Castle to secure eh draw at 153 for nine.

Some captains would be disappointed not to win in Barton’s situation, but Parker saw it differently.

“It was a top performance and one that shows how the team is coming together and turn the corner,” said Parker.

“The team spirit and fight was brilliant in tough conditions."

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