Devon Cricket Board - C Division 2nd XI: Curtis ton not enough for Pens

C Division 2nd XI: Curtis ton not enough for Pens

C DIVISION 2^nd XI

IPPLEEN stay top of the C Division 2nd XI table but their lead was cut as they were held by third in the table Cornwood III.

Batting first the table toppers powered to a declaration at 285-5 with Lee Curtis leading the way with an unbeaten century.

Cornwood opened up with a brace of lady cricketers, Kate O’Keefe and Jess Jones, who bowled tight opening spells.

Openers Tom Cooper and Jon Ranjit were circumspect getting to 85 from 22 overs.

Skipper Simon Tapley came and went for 26, then the fireworks started!

Cooper upped his rate in partnership with Lee Curtis and 200 were added in the last 24 overs.

Cooper was out for 78 but Curtis completed a magnificent century finishing with 112 not out off 54 balls with seven sixes.

A final total of 285 for five declared was a good score but not out of reach for a side that hasn’t lost since the first game of the season.

Cornwood, who started the day only 18 points behind the leaders, made little attempt to chase the total.

Jon Sewell and Al Boon bowled tight opening spells before Tapley turned to spinners Steve Bowden, Steve Harris and Matt Hodgson, who were rotated in short spells.

The Corns reached the half way mark at 56 for three still needing a further 134 for the losing draw points.

A partnership of 86 between Phil Bees (23) and Cavendish (46) took the corns to 119 but opening bowler Sewell removed bees with a direct hit run-out from backward square and 15 year old Hodgson removed Cavendish lbw.

Sewell (3-42) blasted out two more and although Harris and Hodgson one each the last pair held out for seven balls for the draw at 177 for nine.

Said Tapley: “ It is a measure of how far we have come this year that we are disappointed with only 15 points against the side in third place.

“Lee has only batted four times this season, but it was a good reminder what a dangerous player he can be.He hit it very cleanly and very long.

“It was a shame we couldn’t quite get the last wicket but it is always difficult to get a side out in 46 overs when they consciously decide not to chase a total from the outset.”

BARNSTAPLE & Pilton II went all the way to Plymouth where they lost by eight wickets to PCS & Roborough.

Barum batted first and were restricted to 172-7. James Thomas (70) and James Roe (51no) were the main scorers whilst home skipper Ben Pitman, Cieran Ellard and Mark Hopkins all bagged a brace of wickets.

Mark Hamlyn then hit an unbeaten 73 as he and Andrew Hawker (52) added 80 for the unbroken third wicket to lead their side to a comfortable victory.

IT was all over before tea at Ottery St Mary, where Axminster II were hustled out for just 68, which was knocked off without loss by the Otters.

Alex Tubbs and Keith Biggs returned identical figures of 4-16 in seven overs each whilst the other two visiting wickets fell to Alex Thurgate (2-11).

Only Colin Leadbetter and Sean Perry reached double figures, with scores of 10 each.

George Biggs then hit an unbeaten 53, and Antony Dean was not out 16, as the Otters raced to victory, needing just 17 overs to wrap up a maximum-points success.

Ivybridge II claimed their third win of the season and inflicted a fifth defeat this term on Thorverton II beating the Mid Devon men by 47 runs.

Andy Coker top scored with 32 in a total of 166-7 with Marc Shaw the Thors’ bowler to make the biggest impression with 3-58.

Robert Money then hit 22 in the reply that lost its final wicket on 119 as James Willacy took 6-35 for the Bridgers.

Clyst St George II continue to show week-on-week improvement with their latest positive result a winning draw against visiting Clyst Hydon II.

Paul Laverick survived a confident shout for caught behind from the Hydon keeper to make a top score of 56 for Clyst St George.

After a full and frank exchange of views, the game continued!

Steve May (53) and Alan Welsh (49) helped the hosts to 197 all out with Mike Dowell taking 3-28 and Duncan Sykes 3-57.

Mike Oberholster top scored with 48 for Hydon, and Paul Garnham chipped in with an unbeaten 28, but post tea it was the Clyst St George bowlers who were always in charge.

Paul Richardson took 3-20 from a dozen excellent overs and Mike Johnson, sent down 15 overs against his old club for figures of 2-39 in a reply of 133-6.

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773