Devon Cricket Board - E Division: Upottery installed as leaders

E DIVISION

UPOTTERY are the new frontrunners in the E Division after previous leaders Kentisbeare lost whilst David Woolacott’s side were landing a three-wicket win over Tiverton & Bickleigh.

The Mid Devon side batted first and were bowled out for 141 with only Ben Schofield making any impression with 31. Stewart Drew, celebrating his birthday, finished with 5-32.

Wickets fell in the run chase and, at 124-5 Lee Nicholl went to the wicket with his skipper advising that all that was required was a run per over in the closing stages. Nicholl promptly spanked successive fours followed by two huge sixes and Upottery were pronounced winners!

Upottery’s Mike Kellow said: “It was a very solid all-round effort. The impact young Lee had was amazing – some might say outrageous! He paid no heed to the skippers’ rather conservative one run an over and got it all done rather quickly – it did give us added time in our HQ back at the Sidmouth Arms mind you!”

Tivvy skipper Tim Reed said: “That was an all-round bad day at the office. We batted very poorly and then let ourselves down even more in the field.

“I felt when we bagged the fifth wicket at 124, we were right back in the mix, but their late middle-order chap was brutal in his late despatch of the ball.

“We need to improve, and quickly.”

Kentisbeare fell to a second reversal of the season, beaten by seven wickets at Kilmington.

James Sprague carried his bat throughout the Kents’ innings to finish unbeaten on 72, but the 125-9 was never going to be sufficient to stop the home side.

Ben Noble was the chief architect of Kents’ troubles as he claimed 5-10. Keith Rockett was also amongst the wickets with 3-30 with Kilmington skipper Maurice Bevis the other wicket taker (1-37 in 11overs).

Dave Cook (54), John Lavender (26) and Win Wilmott (23) then combined to see the east Devon side to a comfortable victory.

A delighted Bevis said: “That’s been coming. We really did play very well and the great thing from my point of view was the all-round show.

“Not only did we bowl superbly but our support fielding was of the highest standard.

“We made what might have been an awkward run chase a very comfortable one. It was highly satisfying but now we most certainly need to begin to show a level of consistency of this type of all-round effort and performance.”

Filleigh were one-wicket winners over Kenn in a close encounter.

Dave Murfin top scored with 33 for Kenn who lost their final wicket with the total on 123. Gary Henry (4-30) and Ryan Bowden (4-36) did the damage with the ball for Filleigh, who were sliding towards defeat on 124-9 when the two bowlers joined forces at the wicket and took their side to a nail-biting success!

Nick Dartnoll scored 29 but five ducks had the hosts in all sorts of trouble before Henry (20no) and Bowden (13no) took their side to an unlikely victory with an unbroken 44 run final wicket partnership.

Harry Gayden (3-21) and Rob Fowler (3-18) claimed the lion’s share of the Filleigh wickets for a Kenn side that remain without a win after the completion of the first third of the E Division season.

Honiton are up into second place after they despatched bottom side Woodbury by 83 runs. Adam Homes (50), George Meadows (32), Tom Strawbridge (31) and Joe Dixon (30) led their side to a declaration at 208-8.

Only Tim Greenslade made much of an impression in the post-tea session with 30 as Phil Tansley claimed 5-30 as Woodbury were bundled out for 115.

Honiton captain Kev Kelly said: “That was a solid performance with bat and ball. Batting was not easy but then nor was bowling and we did both with great style. It’s a tight division and we are where we want to be, up amongst the leading lights.”

Babbacombe avoided defeat for the first time in three matches when they held out for a draw at Uplyme.

Ashley Caddy led by example, striking his side’s top score of 80 as Uplyme and Lyme Regis closed on 233 for six.

A good opening spell by Tim Stapleton (1-33) and Steve Broad (1-35) had Uplyme at 18 for two, but a stand of 119 for the third wicket and 40 for the fourth helped Uplyme build a commanding total.

Steve Batey (56) and an unbeaten half century from Adam Caddy aided the hosts to their final score..

Solid performances from Steve Porter (37) and Steve Broad (43no) saw Babbacombe reach 167 for the loss of six wickets.

Babbacombe remain one off the bottom – only Woodbury are below them – but skipper Bates can see a change of fortunes on the cards.

“It was good to stop the rot and bat our overs to earn a well fought draw,” said Bates.

“It was particularly pleasing to go to Uplyme and come away with some points after two disappointing losses because a whole team of players were unavailable due to illness, injury, work commitments and not being able to travel.

“For the second team to get 20 points too was a real lift for the club.

“If we can carry that sort of battling attitude into the next couple of games against sides in the bottom half of the table (Kilmington and Woodbury) we can drag ourselves away from the relegation zone.”

Uplyme skipper Caddy said: “It was not very inspiring stuff. They clearly were not going to chase the target and we were unable to winkle them out.”