Devon Cricket Board - South Devon knocked off the top

South Devon knocked off the top

B DIVISION - WEEK SEVEN

SOUTH Devon are off the top of the B Division after drawing with title rivals Plymstock at Marsh Road.

Plymstock, the new tenants at the top, made 207 for six with Dom Wood (61) and Dave Orchard (54) both making half-centuries. Rory Coultham (37no) was still there at the close.

Pat Duke dismissed Wood and overseas batter Rhyst Contessa on his way to figures of two for 51. Peter Vorster (0-48) had no luck at all in 13 tidy overs.

South Devon were 96 for none at 23 overs and 100 for one when Henry Burningham fell for 64.

Morgan Parkinson and Contessa (3-27) got the brake on and at 125 for four South Devon slowed.

Tom Carter (34) and Vorster (26) contributed to a final tally of 175 for seven.

Disappointed South Devon skipper Dave Knowles said the game was there to be one but South Devon blew it.

“First things first, Plymstock are by far and away the best side we have played this season,” said Knowles.

“However, we were in a position to win the game and just didn’t see it though.

“The turning point was when Contessa and in particular Parkinson came on. We couldn’t get either of them away and got badly bogged down.”

Chudleigh have moved within 11 points of second-placed South Devon, with a workmanlike 58-run win over bottom side Clyst St George.

Having made a promising start to reach 40 for nine, Lance Ames (33) among the runs, Chudleigh veered off to 66 for three then 80 for five.

Rob Clarke (34) and Mark Solway (20no) put on 46 as Chudleigh scraped together 149 all out.

There were three wickets each for Chris Ferro (3-19), Chris Cook (3-25) and left-armer Tim Downer (3-43).

Clyst were skittled out for 91 in reply with extras (22) and Nick Dubuisson (13) contributing most.

Skipper Jonny Martin had a field day – five wickets for six runs – with spinners Tertius Gouws (3-36) and Jack Vittles (2-14) doing the rest.

Chagford escaped from Axminster with a draw after it all went wrong chasing 185 to win.

Axminster skipper Paul Miller led by example with an excellent knock of 60 and the best of the support came from Dave Murnane (24), Danny Larcombe (24) and Matt Pyle (21no) in the home offering of 184 for seven.

Miller and Murane put on 59 for the fourth wicket.

There were three wickets for Chagford’s Billy Searle (3-53) and two each for Jeremy Christophers and Colin Rowlands.

Nick Taylor then got to work with the ball, taking 3-46 as he and Gary Larcombe (2-11) got amongst the Chagford batsmen.

At 35 for seven Chagford were in the cart, but a stand of 38 between Matt Bowes (28) and David Penberthy (25no) for staving off total collapse.

Three overs out last man Dan Green went out to join Penberthy and the pair paddled to 111 for nine at the close.

The draw leaves Axminster third from bottom, 17 points clear of Chagford and 35 ahead of Clyst St George.

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