Devon Cricket Board - D Division West: Kerswell lose record

D Division West: Kerswell lose record

D DIVISION WEST

LEADERS Kingskerswell ran into Torquay at their strongest and went down to their first defeat of the season.

Mickey Wilkinson and Tim Western have played 2nd XI cricket before, but are more accustomed to the higher standards of the Premier and A Divisions.

Scott Baldry, ex-Paignton, was making his comeback after six weeks off for Torquay which strengthened them further.

Wilkinson was the star man for Torquay with runs and wickets, although it was never plain sailing for the Rec Grounders.

Kerswell bowled well to keep the runs down, but taking wickets was another issue completely.

Wilkinson top scored with 90 and Western made 64 not out as Torquay accelerated to 227 for three.

Both played and missed on a number of times against Pieter Douglas (1 for 48 off 13) and Dan Machin (none for 37 off 9).

Kerswell fancied chasing down the 228 required for victory and their chances seemed to be well on track when Steve Waters (36) and Mat Stevens (42) put on 81 for the first wicket.

At 150 for four with 10 overs to go, Kerswell may have been favourites, especially with Machin (34) and Erik Gregersen (25) going well.

Kerswell slowed to 184 for seven with three overs to go Kerswell and decided to shut up shop.

Then three wickets fell in eight balls which allowed Torquay to wrap up the Kerswell innings with seven deliveries to spare. Chief wicket taker for Torquay was Wilkinson (4-37).

Kerswell skipper Nigel Butt was unhappy with some of the umpiring calls during the game, but said the team have to forget them and concentrate on beating Plymouth IV this Saturday.

“Three or four decisions went against us, which the guys found surprising, but at this level you have to accept that this sort of thing will happen from time to time and simply get on with it and try and win your next game," said Butt.

“That is exactly what we will do and I expect us to bounce straight back next week.”

“We are still top of the table and intend to keep that position for as long as we can.”

Ashburton gave second-placed Lewdown a run for their money before dipping to a one-wicket defeat

After Alan Churchill went early, Tony Lacey and Vernon Coon (19) pushed the score up to 45.

When Nick Yabsley (42) joined Lacey everything changed. Together they put on 79 with some very aggressive batting to take the score to 124 for three.

Unfortunately the rest of the batting failed to fire, leaving a final total of 142 for nine. Lewdown’s Jake Barber (4-18) came back for a second spell and blew the later batting away. Andy Vernon (3-41) proved too accurate collecting three all bowled victims.

Lewdown’s reply was rapid at the start, but wickets regularly fell at one end as Paul Daymond (63) collected runs at the other.

Daymond was finally undone when skipper Churchill bought a wicket by bringing on Bradley Bignall (1-18) for a couple of overs.

Ian Gibson (36) made a good contribution while Steve Butler (4no) and Andy Vernon (2no) hung around for the final two overs to deny Ashburton victory.

Lewdown reached the winning total with 12 overs to spare but it was a close call getting there.

Will Coon (3-33) show what accuracy can do in two excellent spells. After a shaky start, Rob Lambert (3-49) clawed back three wickets.

Chagford beat Plymouth by 91 runs to move into the top four. Peter Holland (65) and Rob Gofton (26) made runs in a total of 189 for eight. Gofton then took four for 19 as Plymouth collapsed to 98 all out.

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