Devon Cricket Board - C Division - Chagford take over at top

C DIVISION

CHAGFORD swept to the top of the C Division with a hefty 111-run win at Bideford.

Henry Gordon-Lennox hit 50 and Alan Searle 25 as Chagford recovered from 16 for three to reach 86 for four.

After a bout of wicket taking which involved Matt Bettis (3-25) and Chris Luxton (4-37), Chagford accelerated again through Del Lammonby (42) and Josh Barber (30), who put o 50 for the seventh wicket towards the final total of 193 all out.

Bideford needed a decent start to stay in contention, which 43 for five definitely wasn’t!

Bettis (21) hung around for a while, but Bill Searle (4-24) and the father-and-sin pairing of Steve (2-6) and Gary Sizmur (2-30) had Bideford all out for 82.

OTTERY St Mary go into their meeting with fellow strugglers Kingsbridge boosted by a battling two-wicket win over Ashburton.

Ashes slewed from 60 for six to 114 for seven the 117 all out as Mark Woodman (5-29) and Will Harrison (3-27) got stuck in.

George Marshall made 22 and Tony Lacey had 26, but it was extras (38) that filled the most space in Ashes scorebook.

Ottery then subsided to 59 for six in reply with skipper Jody Clements (22) the only batter to hang around against Marcus West (3-27) and Tom Durman (2-43).

The key knock for Ottery was one of 31 not out from George Biggs which won the game.

Skipper Clements said 117 was a decent score in poor conditons, although Ottery could have made life easier for themselves.

“Although Woodman and Harrison did a good job with the ball, we bowled far too many wides (33),” said Clements.

“A great effort by George Biggs saw us through and a couple of other batsmen chipped in and looked on better form.”

CLYST Hydon captain Ian Sutton admitted something needs to be done about his side’s batting after they just held on for a draw against Clyst St George.

St George – under new captaincy now Steve Bourke has replaced Matt Cook – made 209 for five with Chris Cook (84) and Bourke (44) the leading contributors.

Mike Johnson (4-40) and Chris Cook (5-17) reduced Hydon to 123 for nine in reply.

Although Sutton (36) and Andy Feather (27) were respectable with the bat, it was left to last pair Matt Fitt and Will Thornton to block out the final overs.

A disappointed Sutton said: “We played well in places and for the first half of their innings were in control as they only had 46 for two at half way.

“A few too many four balls and it got away from us.

“Having said that we started our innings well, getting to 51 for none off 15 overs, and 210 was very gettable.

“Then their spinners came on, the runs dried up and the wickets came.

Our batting is definitely an issue at the moment. We have plenty of good batsman, but all of us need to have a bit of application and show a bit of pride.”

STOKE Gabriel warmed up for the derby date against Ipplepen on Saturday with a convincing six-wicket win over Kingsbridge

The star of the show for Stoke was Aussie all-rounder Anthony Scott with runs and wickets, not that it was entirely a one-man show.

Kingsbridge – two for two after an early going over from Scott (5-35) stammered to 87 for six then on to 120 all out. Jack Tolley took two for nine.

James Fletcher made 27 and Clive Clarke 20, which was as good as it got.

Scott (65) and veteran Steve Tolley (20) broke the back of the chase by putting on 65 for the second wicket.

Stoke skipper Andy Lockyer said there were lots of good things to savour, but one of two areas of improvement for Saturday’s second-against-third clash.

“Aussie Antony is in good form and made a tricky pitch look easy with some massive sixes,” said Lockyer.

“Anthony bowled well too and I was impressed with how young Jack Tolley s bowling is coming on.

“Ipplepen will be tough and need to sharpen up in the field and cut out bowling so many wides . We have bowled at least 20 every game so far.”

IPPLEPEN’S Steve Bowden came up trumps in the last over of a thrilling game against Ivybridge which ended in a tie.

Ivybridge needed 13 to win off the last three overs, seven from the final one and two runs from the last ball.

Bowler Bowden kept Ivybridge to one run and the game was tied.

“What a great match to have been part of,” said Pens’ skipper Keith Wakeham.

“With three overs left the visitors only needed 13 runs with three wickets in hand. “A run out and two tight overs meant 7 needed from the last, and ultimately 2 from the last ball.

“Cool fielding again by Jon Sewell at mid-on and 'safe hands' Bowden at the stumps kept them to one run and a fair result for both teams, in a classic see-saw game.”

Bowden (35) and Maritz Hartmann (61) grafted a partnership of 101 to set a great base with 15 overs left.

The introduction of Sri Lankan spinner Jeewan daSilva(4-34) proved too much for the Pens’ middle order who nosedived from 106 for one to 130 for eight.

Only an unbroken 25 from Paul Thomas (12no) and Sewell (10) got the score up to 155 for eight.

Pens bowled and fielded tightly but Ivybridge kept wickets in hand for a late onslaught.

With 20 overs left the Bridge were 61 for two but with skipper Gareth Andrews (35) and hard-hitting Kelvin Trent(33) at the crease.

Keith Wakeham's(4-40) second spell in tandem with Steve Bowden(2-34) and some brilliant catching by Sewell took out the middle order to set up a grandstand finish.