Devon Cricket Board - Honiton installed as E Division leaders

Honiton installed as E Division leaders

E DIVISION - WEEK THREE

HONITON took over at the top of the E Division after an 11-run win at Uplyme & Lyme Regis.

Mark Batey (27) was the only home batsmen to make a real impression as the hosts were bowled out for 172 chasing the Honiton offering of 183.

Uplyme skipper Ashley Caddy claimed a five-wicket haul as the visitors had earlier been bowled out for 183.

Upottery moved within three points of the outright lead with an empathic eight wicket home win over ailing Woodbury.

The visitors were bundled out for just 104 with extras being the biggest contributor with 32! James Taylor struck the highest with the bat on 22 as Dan Broom took 5-26 in six overs and Gary Kennard claimed 2-20. Ollie Rice (53) and Adam Pullman (37) ensure that there were few problems on the way to a resounding home win.

Kentisbeare completed another magnificent run chase when they took on, and passed, the Tiverton & Bickleigh offering of 281 at their Culmstock home.

Chris Reed hit a wonderful century, finally out for 134 and Ben Schofield chipped in with 67 as the home side closed on what looked a healthy total.

Andrew Chave then hit an unbeaten 70 to lead the run chase home, one that was successful for the loss of just five wickets!

Paul Rendall was the pick of the home bowlers with 1-47 from a dozen excellent overs.

Kenn had to settle for a winning draw in their hoe meeting with a bullish Babbacombe who closed on 159-9 in reply to the Kenn 190 all out.

Pete Chislet (40) and Nigel; Darke (34) were the main home run getters as Richard Backholer (3-37) and Dave Williams (3-35) claimed wickets for the Torbay side who were then indebted to Marcus Tanton (40) and former Exmouth player Paul Bates (26) to see them to their close and the losing draw.

Having been 55 for one largely due to Tanton, Babbacombe slumped to 77 for seven with 23 overs to bat.

Nick Sleeman (25 no) batted through in stands of 41 with Williams (18) and 31 with Bates (26) for the eighth and ninth wickets respectively. With Bates out with three overs to go, the last pair batted out for a well earned draw.
Harry Gayden (4-58) and Stuart Wonnacott (3-2) were the principle Kenn wicket takers.

For Babbacombe that is now three games without a win, although skipper Bates isn’t panicking yet.

“Still no win but plenty of positives to take out of the game after a good fightback to earn a draw and deny Kenn victory,” said Bates.

“For the third week running we have picked up maximum bowling points, backed up by some excellent out cricket, notably by Stevie Cocker who took four catches out in the deep.

“Thirty points after three games without a win shows we are doing something right but we need that first win to get us climbing up the table.”

Filleigh won their first game of the new league season at the third time of asking with a six wicket home win over Kilmington.

The East Devon side batted first and edged past maximum batting points before closing on 201-9. Tom Gooding (49) and Will Wilmott (43) led them to their total with John Hickman bowling an inspired spell of 12 overs that yielded the experienced seamer 7-53.

Rob Collier the hit an unbeaten 67 and kipper Simon Prideaux chipped in with 42 as the home side cantered to victory. Hal Cook claimed 2-48 for well beaten Kilmington.

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