Devon Cricket Board - Pens ahead at halfway

D DIVISION

IPPLEPEN have reached the half way stage 17 points clear of Ottery St Mary at the top of the table and 43 points ahead of Feniton in the promotion race.

An eighth win in nine outings this term was achieved with plenty to spare as they overwhelmed second-from-bottom Bridestowe by 241 runs.

With an over to go the hosts declared, but only after skipper Keith Wakeham gave batsman Luke Tuckett the opportunity to complete his century.

Tuckett was on 96 but declined so that the team’s bowlers could get an extra over if needed, at the visitors.

Dave Harris had already made 124 by then and with Tuckett at the other end put on 146 for the second wicket.

Harris and Joe Abbott (48) reached 148 for starters before Abbot went.

The declaration at 294 for two proved unnecessary for it took just 31 overs for the visitors to bundled out for just 53 with only Phil Hutton (22) making any impression.

Fifteen-year-old spinner Matt Hodgson claimed 3-9.

Andrew Mason, claimed 3-13 and skipper Wakeham bagged 2-21.

Wakeham was magnanimous in victory saying: “Bridestowe were a game side and gave it their all.”

Ottery St Mary head into the half way stage of the season second in the table with 17 points to make up on leaders Ipplepen.

The Otters would have been a little closer though had they been able to see off the tail enders in the Whitchurch side.

Whitchurch, closed on 171-8 in reply to the Otters’ 210-8.

Mark Woodman was the star of the show for the East Devon side with an unbeaten knock of 41.

Earlier, Matt Kirk had registered the hosts’ top score of 57. Josh Meadows claimed 5-57.

Meadows then hit an unbeaten 30 to help guide his side to the losing draw. Martyn Credicott (41) and George Webb (35) were the other principle run getters for Whitchurch whilst Rob Johns (3-25) and that man Woodman (3-34) were the main wicket takers.

Feniton skipper Mark Kingdon declared himself highly satisfied with his team’s 14 -point haul from a visit to Plymouth CS&R.

Said Kingdon: “They are a good side so I am not going to complain about a respectable points haul on their ground.

“We are in the mix at the half way stage and you can’t ask for more than that.

It’s up to us to drive over the next three or four games to ensure we are still, part of the promotion race for the final hurdles of the campaign.”

Feniton were in all sorts of bother with the skipper and Charlie Selley back in the pavilion with two on the board!

It was an unbroken stand of 74 for the eighth wicket that saw Feniton past the 200 before they closed on 228-7.

Jon Pyle, batting at number nine finished unbeaten on 47 whilst Andrew Rose was not out 41.

Jack Dent claimed 3-45 for the home side who then closed on 202-6 led there by Jason Williams (50), Andy Hawker (46) and Greg Bridget (37). John French (3-53) and Russell Witton (2-57) were the principle wicket takers.

The biggest surprise of the D Division day was arguably the result at Countess Wear, where high-flying Yelverton were beaten by the home side who hadn’t won at home this season.

Only Joel Avery with 31 was able to make much headway for the visitors as Kav Diaz (5-27) and Adrian Nash 2-34) made their way through the batting order.

Mark Davey, fielding in the slips, held five catches!

Davey then took charge with the bat striking an imperious unbeaten 75 as he and James Bogue (20no) carried the Exeter side over the winning line for the loss of just two wickets.

Skipper Dave Harkness said: “I am absolutely delighted. At last we have ended a miserable run.

“I knew we had in our side it was just a case of getting rid of the losing run and that’s done now.

“We really did bowl well and fielded in support better than in any game this term. The catching was excellent.”

Whimple were the big climbers in D Division and they sit fourth after a second successive victory, following up their defeat of Ottery St Mary seven days before by out playing hosts Halberton to win by 100 runs.

It was a dramatic acceleration over the final 10 overs of the Whimple innings that effectively laid the foundations of the victory.

Chris Palfrey and Paul Gillard were the key contributors with Palfrey hitting 80 of the 100 runs that flowed in those final ten overs.

Palfrey finished unbeaten on 87 whilst Gillard’s contribution was 41.

Paul Robins took 4-35 and Richie Durrant claimed 2-72 as Whimple closed on 229-6. Tom Sambrook was the only home batsmen to prosper in the second part of the game hitting a top score of 44 as wickets fell at the other end.

Phil Hope took 3-30 but it was Whimple skipper Jono Burden who led from the front with 4-30 as the home side were bowled out for 129.

Burden said: “That was a really strong effort throughout the side. We were disciplined with the bat to the point that we exploded into life over the last ten overs and then we bowled and fielded with real gusto.

“To move into fourth spot at the half way stage sets us up for the second half of the season.

“We are in good form now and need to keep applying ourselves. I am confident we can go on and have a real go at a high finish over the final nine games of the season.”