Devon Cricket Board - D Division: Fens gain on Pens and Otters

D Division: Fens gain on Pens and Otters

D DIVISION

NEITHER of the top two in D Division were able to win with Ipplepen and Ottery St Mary denied by visiting sides.

Leaders Ipplepen batted first at home to Whitchurch and were bowled out for 167 with Dave Harris (37) and Sam De Friend (32) the only batsmen to make much progress as Josh Meadows claimed 3-14 for still winless Whitchurch.

Ewan Smith then hit 34 as the visitors battled to a gritty 150-9 at the close. Kiwi spinner Andy Mason picked up 4-37 to take him to 43 wickets for the season to date.

Ottery St Mary were unable to close the gap on the leaders by more than a couple, of points as they were forced to settled for a winning draw at home to Yelverton who closed on 179-8 replying to the Otters’ offering of 230-7. Sam Tennent (45), Jack Pritchard (41) and Rob Johns (21) played the supporting roles to Jody Clements who hit a sparkling unbeaten 62. Joel Avery took 3-63 for the visitors who were led to their defiant reply by Keith Bennett with 39. Mark Woodman was once again the pick of the Otters’ bowlers with 3-43.

Feniton took the chance to close the gap on the two currently occupying D Division promotion berths with a two-wicket win in a thrilling encounter at Halberton and Sampford Peverell.

The Mid Devon side batted first and were led to 227-9 by Jeremy Turner (74) and Paul Robins (54). Mark Kingdon took 4-19 for the visitors, the Feniton skipper also bagged his first ever hat-trick, all snared in the final over of the hosts innings.

His first of the treble was the removal of Turner with the help of an Adi Pullin catch and the second and third wickets were clean bowled. Norman Bedford also picked up three wickets for the visitors.

It was 88 off the final ten overs that saw Feniton to victory in the penultimate over with John Pyle cracking an unbeaten 43 to see them over the line after earlier runs from Bedford (48), Swannell (29) and Alex Frankpitt (24).

Richie Durrant claimed a four wicket haul for Halberton who are beginning to look anxiously over their shoulders at the foot of the table.

Feniton skipper Mark Kingdon said: “It was a superb game to be involved in with both sides having real chances at various times.

“All our batsmen contributed in the run chase which is very pleasing. I do think Ipplepen are over the hill and far away so it’s target Ottery for us if we are to bag a top two finish.

“We have Whimple away and Whitchurch at home before we tackle them on their track on August 6 so the next fortnight is vital for us to accrue as many points as we can to set things up nicely for that Otters fixture.”

Dave Bayliss top scored with 72 as Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough were restricted to 145-9 at home to Bridestowe for whom Tom Foggerty took 4-30. Phil Hatton then hit 65 to lead the visiting side to a five wicket win.

The 18-point haul takes Bridestowe to within 15 points of third bottom Halberton.

Whimple were put in at Countess Wear and scored a very respectable 233-6 led there by an unbeaten century from Kevin Thompson.

Thompson was unbeaten on 103 at the close and Trevor Griffin weighed in with 57. Diaz (2-38) and Singh (3-57) were the principle wicket takers for the Exeter side who then closed on 191-6 with James Bogue (61) and Jarvis (58) the principle scorers. Whimple skipper Jono Burden was delighted with the collective effort of his side, saying: “Being stuck in on what I have to say was a road with no sign of dampness at all, we played very sensibly with the bat.

“Thommo (Thompson) was superb, he waited patiently for the bad ball and dispatched it accordingly.

“Trevor (Griffin) also batted very well. I’ll certainly take a winning draw in such conditions. The boys did very well.”

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