B DIVISION
AXMINSTER struck the result of the day in the B Division when they defeated leaders Plymstock by two wickets.
Alex Wraight was once again amongst the wickets, claiming 4-19 whilst Nick Taylor and Robbie Prior bagged a brace each as the visitors were restricted to 151 for nine.
Taylor’s two for 33 from 13 overs really put the pressure on Plymstock, especially as he picked off Plymstock run machine Dom Woods for two!
Opener Tristan Wakeley the led the successful run chase with an unbeaten 68 as the Cloakham Lawns side got home with two wickets to spare to secure only their second success of the season.
Dave Orchard (4-39) was the pick of the Plymstock bowlers while Morgan Parkinson was going along nicely (2-35) before disappearing for 18 in his last over.
Plymstock remain top, but their lead has been trimmed to six points over Chudleigh, who snatched second place of South Devon thanks to a nine-run win over Thorverton.
Chudleigh would have wondered if they had enough on the board after they were bowled out for 146 – Gwillam Crouch and Brad Charlton taking three wickets each.
Tersius Gouws made a top score off the bat of 30 while Thorverton gave away 40 in extras.
A last wicket stand of 25 between Jack Vittles (16) an Adam Dowrick proved vital to Chudleigh’s subsequent success.
At 112 for five in reply it looked like a cakewalk for Thorverton, who had captains past and present Gareth Hess (34) and Ali Fury (25) to thank for getting them there.
Then the wheel fell off.
Chudleigh spinner Gouws (5-57) and seamer Jon Martin (5-57) tore through the bottom half of the order as Thors collapsed to 137 all out.
Chudleigh slipped past South Devon, who dominated a drawn game at Chagford but could not wrap up a win over the struggling Moorlanders.
Kiwi Pete Vorster lashed his second ton of the season as South Devon raced to 248 for four declared.
Vorster put on 138 with Adrian Hewings (41) as South Devon advanced from 89 for three to 227 for four. Tom Carter made 37.
Chagford’s bowling figures were not for the faint hearted. Billy Searle had two for 67, Jeremy Christophers one for 54 and Del Lammonby one for 62.
Whether South Devon skipper Dave Knowles delayed the declaration an over or two too long, is a matter of conjecture. Having got Chagford 99 for six, South Devon couldn’t get the tail enders out in the time allowed.
Vorster had four for 42 and Henry Burningham twiddled a couple more out with his leg-breaks.
After Alan Searle went the rearguard action was led by Lammonby (34) and Dave Penberthy (30no). Christophers was out for 23 in the last over on the final score of 176 for eight.
FORMER Torquay batsman Ed Yeo proved the difference between the teams when Barnstaple entertained Dartington & Totnes.
Yeo, now with Barnstaple, lashed 76 not out in the dying stages of the innings as B&P recovered to make 200 for seven.
Tight bowling from Bertus Loots and Mick Rusling had kept the lid on B&P’s early batsmen, as had some great fielding which included a superb return catch by Ryan Stevenson and one at full stretch by Matt Thurlow.
Jack Popham made 32 and Brady Saunders 25 as B&P reached the 23 over mark on 72 for three.
The quick bowlers were brought back in the last six overs and that was when Yeo cut lose.
Yeo added 64 with help from Lee Cole and Tom Popham, reached 200 for seven on maximum batting points off the last ball.
Darts were there or thereabouts run-rate wise at 20 overs with 98 for four on the board and runs from Joe Hockings (21) and Kalon Veale (31) among the runs.
B&P’s catching was tip-top too – Yeo taking a juggling effort at slip – but until they split Thurlow (36) and Loots (22) a home win looked likely.
The stand between Thurlow and Loots had reached 57 when George McEndoo had Loots caught in the deep. Thurlow went soon after and when Ryan Stevenson was run out at162 for eight the chase was curtailed.
Harold Stevenson and Will Gornall went safety first to the draw at 175 for eight.
Wicketwise, there were two each for Jack Popham, Ross Burbridge and Henry McEndoo.
CLYST St George’s recent revival came to a grinding half when they lost by three wickets at Tavistock.
Youngster George Randall-Johnson showed what a good prospect he is for the future with a top score of 55 in Clyst’s 147 all out.
Having been 69 for six at least Clyst had something to defend thanks to Randall-Johnson.
Only Steve Bourke (36) and Chris Ferro (21) chipped in with anything worthwhile.
Star of the show with the ball for Tavvy with seven for 29 was Andy Gauler.
The Cooks – dad Matt (3-40) and son Chris (2-27) made life hard for Tavvy on the chase.
A stand of 78 for the third wicket between Ryan Davies (60) and Josh Stephens (38) proved crucial to the success of the mission.
Clyst are now 32 points away from safety with just one win in 10 starts.