Devon Cricket Board - E Division: Honiton carry on at the top

E Division: Honiton carry on at the top

E DIVISION

HONITON stay top in the E Division after a 108-run win over Tiverton & Bickleigh.

Batting first Honiton were bowled out for 191 with Andy Quick proving to be an inspired bowling change by the visiting skipper Tim Reed.

With Honiton on 140-2, Reed threw the ball, to Quick who promptly claimed 5-37 to bundle the hosts out for that 191.

Only Mike Lowman (18) made any contribution in the reply of 83. Phil Holmes bagged a five-wicket haul for the well-beaten visitors.

Upottery maintained their top-two berth after a 68-run win at Kilmington.

Tom Wyatt (56), Ollie Rice (29) and Matthew Button-Stephens (28), led the visitors to their 182-6.

Keith Rockett took 2-30 for Kilmington whilst Ben Noble (2-47) and Tom Gooding (1-33), also claimed wickets. Kilmington were then bundled out for 114 with only Dave Cook (36), Ralph Cook (17) and Adam Culley (16), making any progress as Dan Broome (3-23), Stuart Drew (3-29), Gary Kennard (2-17) and Matt Frost (2-41), all claimed wickets.

Kilmington skipper Maurice Bevis said: “It was tough going given the conditions.

“We were left with something resembling a bar of soap to bowl with before tea.

“Later, the conditions improved and we certainly had the worst of what the elements had to offer.

“That said we did not apply ourselves too well with the bat and need to show an improvement in that particular department!”

Kentisbeare banked maximum points with a five-wicket win over Kenn.

Matt Wonnacott hit an unbeaten 56 to lead Kenn to their total of 182.

Patrick Hobson took 4-32 for Kentisbeare who were led to victory with Andy Ogden (40no) and Andrew Chave (28no) guiding them over the line.

A delighted Kents’ skipper Michael Cooke said: “We deserved to win the game as we bowled, fielded and batted, very well.

“We now need to keep up this level of consistency and, if we do, then we should enjoy a good campaign.”

Filleigh powered to a 136-run win at Babbacombe, where a Simon Prideaux century led the North Devon side to 260-8.

Tim Stapleton (4-45) and Paul Bates (3-44) took wickets for Babbacombe who were then bowled out for 124.

Andy Bullen (51) was the only home batsman to make an impression as John Hickman (4-34) and Ryan Bowden (4-39), took wickets for the North Devon side.

Bullen stepped up from the 2nd XI on a day when 16 players were absent, either through injuries or because they were following Torquay United to Old Trafford.

Skipper Bates had high hopes for the season a month ago, but is starting to worry after four games without a win.

If we don't start batting our overs we are going to remain at the bottom of the division and our season will be over before it's started,” said Bates.

Adam Caddy struck 104 as Uplyme and Lyme Regis got a winning draw from their visit to Woodbury.

The visitors declared on 176-9 with Kevin Miller taking 4-40 for the Woods who took the losing draw and so ended a sequence of three straight defeats from the opening game.

Woodbury went mighty close to claiming victory, finishing on 175-8, led there by Mark Smale (62), Tim Greenslade (31) and skipper James Taylor (24).

Uplyme skipper Ashley Caddy said: “I declared to give the bowlers an extra couple of overs to see if we could force the win but their openers batted well, albeit with a sprinkling of lady luck as we did drop a number of catches.

“No complaints from me, we did our best and were just a little short at the close.”

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