Devon Cricket Board - A Division 2nd XI: Exmouth charge on

A Division 2nd XI: Exmouth charge on

A DIVISION 2^nd XI

EXMOUTH charge on at the top of the A Division 2nd XI table following a 100-run win over Bradninch.

Bradninch could only bat 10 players as veteran Andy Nicholls was hit in the chest while facing Pat Hall and retired unwell soon after.

However, Nicholls wouldn’t have made that much difference at Brandinch were heading for defeat then anyway.

Jason Matthews hammered 106 for Exmouth in a total of 235 for eight. Matthews and Stuart Cross (49) rescued the situation from 46 for four with a stand of 71 for the fifth wicket.

Phil Chappell’s left-armers picked up three Exmouth wickets for 47 runs.

Bradninch could only manage bits and pieces in reply – Dean, Acton and Balan all made 21 – on a day that belonged to Exmouth veteran Ashton Collinge.

Collings (6-56) took six wickets on the bounce, including last man Chappell, to clinch victory with eight balls to spare.

Exmouth are eight points clear at the top of Sandford, who beat Plymstock after a struggle by 16 runs.

An opening stand of 75 between skipper Paul Smith (28) and Steve Morrish (43) proved crucial as Sandford got to 153. Ian Whalley (3-37) was the pick of the bowlers for Sandford.

Plymstock were all out for 137 in reply, Shaun Fryatt (5-32) and Brian Leech (2-28) doing the damage. Lee Savage (22no) top scored for Plymstock.

Skipper Smith said it was a good win batting first on a difficult surface.

“It was an alien surface to a lot of Sandford players - extremely damp and slow – but going in first meant we got the best of it,” said Smith.

“Throughout the game there was some excellent catches held and Plymstock made us work extremely heard for the win.

“Nigel Ashplant deserves a special mention as he damaged a hamstring while batting, but kept wicket through the pain barrier.”

CHUDLEIGH’S rearguard action wasn’t enough to save them from a 34-run defeat by Plymouth.

Matt Ball (3-28) and Mark Heather (2-42) had Plymouth under early pressure as they laboured to 16 for three.

Rich Gill (18), who took 38 balls to get off the mark, with Dave Watson pushed Plymouth to 47 for four then 82 for five with Jake Foley (42).

The lower order chipped in to get Plymouth up to 147 for eight.

Chudleigh seamer Graeme Wilson went for only one scoring shot in his first 11 overs, although he did concede 18 wides.

Chudleigh were tied down from the start by Jordan Hancock (seven overs for two runs) and Phil Barrow (4-23).

Wilson (35) and Paul Horne (23) resisted, but wickets fell at the other end and with Martin Gill taking four for 51 it was all over at 113 for Chudleigh.

Sidmouth’s problems at the foot of the table continued as they went down by seven wickets at Barton.

Captain for the day Mike Dibble made 34 and opener John Goodwin 23 in a total of 113 all out.

There were two wickets each for Dave Palmer, Dan Camp, Mike Lievesley and Pete Gartrell.

Barton got the runs in a hurry – 19.5 overs to be exact – thanks to rapid runs from Steve Lewis (66).

“Steve had to get off early to a squash club dinner, so he didn’t hang about,” explained Barton captain Mike Lievesley.

Palmer (20) and Dale Adderley (16no) both chipped in.

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