Devon Cricket Board - E Division: Honiton drop out of top two

E DIVISION

BABBACOMBE’S E Division relegation fears worsened when they lost by three wickets to Kenn.

Defeat leaves the Walls Hill outfit 21 points away from safety with a tough trip to leaders Filleigh this Saturday.

Babbacombe batted first and were led to 204-9 by Matt Inch (86) and Nick Sleeman (41). Pete Chislet took 3-46 for Kenn who got home with three wickets to spare.

Kenn skipper Dave Murfin finished it all off with a six to end unbeaten on 115. Matt Wonnacott scored 25 whilst Dave Williams (3-33) and Paul Bates (2-48) took the wickets.

Skipper Paul Bates knows the situation is perilous, but still thinks Babbacombe can play their way out of trouble.

"I cannot fault the players’ effort,” said Bates.

“Matt and Nicks stand of 104 was a great recovery from a poor position and to reach 200 plus gave us a fighting chance.

“Dave Williams bowled his best spell of the season and to end up on he losing team was gutting.

“It was especially galling as we were convinced we had Murfin stumped on 50 odd, but the umpire saw it differently and he virtually won the game for them single handed.

“We haven't given up hope quite yet, Tiverton are 20 points ahead with a third of the season remaining.

“If we carry on battling like we did on Saturday our efforts will be rewarded and we can put some pressure on the teams above.

“Somebody usually goes into a bit of a freefall at this point of the season and could drop down into the relegation battle.”

KILMINGTON took leaders Filleigh to the wire before the North Devon side won with seven balls of a enthralling contest remaining.

The East Devon side batted first and were troubled at 8-2 before John Lavender (33) and Tom Gooding (51) took the side to 93-3.

Two further wickets then fell with the score on 98 but the late order rallied and Kilmington were able to close on 248-8 with Adam Culley (50), Hal Cook (34no) and Izzy Wickramaratne (34) all chipping in.

Ryan Bowden was the pick of the table toppers bowlers with 4-57.

At 28-2 Filleigh were also in difficulty then Mark Prideaux took charge to score a splendid 95. Nick Dartnoll (61) and Tom Marsh (36) made important contributions and Filleigh edged home in the penultimate over.

Ben Noble claimed 4-56 from a fine 13-over spell. Hal Cook (2-15) and skipper Maurice Bevis (2-59) also picked up wickets.

Bevis said: “That is without doubt the most thrilling game of cricket I have played in for a good ten years.

|”It continued to go either way with the result in doubt until the closing stages.

“We felt we were down, then up, and they must have felt the same. It was a pleasure to be involved in a game like that”.

HONITON were the big losers as they were beaten at home by Uplyme and Lyme Regis and found themselves out of the promotion places and down to fourth!

With half their side back in the pavilion and just 70 on the board, Uplyme were in big trouble.

Then Max Brimmacombe came to the wicket and took charge, scoring a superb unbeaten 59 to help lead the side to a total of 177.

Skipper Ashley Caddy hit the second highest individual score of 22. Caddy and his brother Adam then, and not for the first time, did the damage with the ball.

Once again working in tandem, Ashley claimed 4-19 and Adam took 4-29 as Honiton were bundled out for 112.

THE mid-Devon derby at Kentisbeare went very much the way of the hosts as Tiverton and Bickleigh were beaten by a whopping 176 runs

Andy Ogden (68), Joe Blackmore (52) and Scott Chappell (52) were the main run providers as the Kents posted a healthy 271-7.

Jerry Reed bagged a brace of wickets for the visitors, who were then bundled out for just 95 with Harry Howe claiming a six-wicket haul.

Jeremy Parr top scored with 35 but Howe ruled supreme with figures of 6-26 and skipper Michael Cooke claimed 3-52.

A delighted Cooke said: “It was a conclusive victory and we are certainly putting a few results together.

“Can we take it further? I am not sure, as for me, we lack the sort of consistency needed to make a push for the top berths.

“That said, we have shown again to day that when we put our minds to batting and bowling we are as good as anybody in this division.”

UPOTTERY have climbed into a promotion berth after a five-wicket win at bottom-of-the-table Woodbury.

Tim Greenslade hit 65 and Tim Owens chipped in with 20 as Woodbury were bowled out for 150. Stuart Drew (4-38), Gary Kennard (3-41) and Mark Frost (2-17) were the Upottery wicket takers.

Tom Wyatt then hit an unbeaten half-century whilst Jimmy Jones picked up 3-38 for the hosts.

Upottery’s five-wicket win lifts them into second spot, some 21 adrift of leaders Filleigh with six games of the season remaining.

KENN were three -wicket winners at Babbacombe thanks to an outstanding unbeaten 115 from skipper Dave Murfin.

Babbacombe batted first and were led to 204-9 by Matt Inch (86) and Nick Sleeman (41). Pete Chislet took 3-46 for Kenn who got home with three wickets to spare.

Murfin finished it all off with a six to end unbeaten on 115. Matt Wonnacott scored 25 whilst Dave Williams (3-33) and Paul Bates (2-48) took the wickets.

"I cannot fault the players effort, Matt and Nicks stand of 104 was a great recovery from a poor position and to reach 200 plus gave us a fighting chance. daveWilliams bowled his best spell of the season and for them to end up on he losing team was gutting.

"It was especially galling as we were convinced we had murfin stumped on 50 odd, but the umpire saw it differently and he virtually won the game for them single handed.

"We haven't given up hope quite yet, Tiverton are 20 points ahead with a third of the season remaining. if we carry on battling like we did on Saturday our efforts will be rewarded and we can put some pressure on the teams above. somebody usually goes into a bit of a freefall at this point of the season and could drop down into the relegation battle!!"