Devon Cricket Board - E Division: Prideauxs among the runs

E Division: Prideauxs among the runs

E DIVISION 1^st XI

FILLEIGH march on at the top of the E Division after a six wicket win at home to Babbacombe.

The visitors batted first and laboured their way to 147-9.

Nick Dartnoll (3-35), Tom Marsh (2-18) and John Hickman (2-21) were the wicket takers for Filleigh who were then led to a six wicket win at 148-4 by Mark Prideaux (45) and Simon Prideaux (29).

The Filleigh lead at the top is 21 points and they are 24 points clear of the latest side to sit third , Honiton which all means that 77 points from the last five games and they will line up in the D Division next season.

Upottery march on in the second E Division promotion berth after a five wicket home win over Kilmington.

The star of the show was former Kilmington player Tom Wyatt who scored a wonderful unbeaten 91 to lead Upottery to victory.

Wyatt was also a thorn in the side of the Kilmington batsmen as he held three catches, the first off the very first delivery of the game, bowled by Dan Broom that resulted in David Cook being dismissed for a golden duck! Adam Culley (38), John Lavender (35) and Ben Noble with an unbeaten 30, were the principle Kilmington scorers whilst Gary Kennard (3-26), Lee Nichol (2-28) and Willow Drew (2-26) claimed the wickets.

Wyatt then dominated the reply with his unbeaten 91.

They were helped along the way by a hefty 30 extras and Ryan Pullman chipped in with 19.

Ben Noble bowled superbly in a losing cause, sending down his dozen overs and returning wonderful figures of 2-26.

Upottery’s Mike Kellow said of the club’s promotion prospects: “If it happens, it happens.

Not for us this, can we survive up a level? No, we’d like the opportunity to see how we’d do, what we prefer to say is, let’s get up there and find out just how we’d do!”

Honiton bounced back from the previous week’s disappointment to put hosts Tiverton and Bickleigh to the sword.

Batting first at the Culmstock home of the Mid Devon side, Pete Matravers hit a sparkling 104 and there was fine 69 from Rob Ingram as Honiton posted a commanding 294-6.

Jason Parr claimed 4-84 for Tiverton and Bickleigh who were then humbled for a meagre 128.

Richard Pugsley (20), Jason Parr (19) and Paul Rendell (17) were the only home batsmen to make any impression as Honiton skipper Kev Kelly led from the front with 5-31 and Kev Holmes weighed in with 4-17.

Tiverton skipper Tim Reed said: “We simply did not bat well enough.

It was very disappointing to reply with such a paltry offering.”

Kentisbeare retained their interest in the promotion race but they were forced to settle for a winning draw at Kenn where the home side’s last two batsmen stood firm to deny them what would have been another five points and that would have left them joint second instead of fourth!

Batting first, Neil Farley (44) and Andy Ogden (32) led the Kents to 206-8.

Vejay Goud (3-39) and teenager Casey Clay (3-47) were the pick of the Kenn bowlers.

Young Clay then turned defiant tail end batsman as he and Kevin Williams saw out the final five overs and lead their side to a close of 165-9.

Vejay Gourd completed a fine all-round effort with the top Kenn offering of 69 and Nigel Dart struck the best of the rest with 15.

Pat Hobson claimed a fivefer for the Kents, finishing with 5-40.

Mark Batey was the half centurion that saw Uplyme and Lyme Regis to a sixth E Division win of the season.

The victory also keeps alive the sides promotion hopes for, although sitting fifth, they are just a dozen points shy of second placed Upottery who they meet next! Bateys’ unbeaten 58 and 39 from Rob Thom took Uplyme to 124-1, securing a nine wicket win after visiting Woodbury had been restricted to a laboured 123-4 from their 46 overs.

The visitors were at one stage four down with 32 on the board at which point it became very clear that they were determined to bat out their overs without further loss of wickets! Steve Batey bagged two of the wickets to fall for 20 runs.

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