Devon Cricket Board - F Division: 80-year-old spinner takes five wickets!

F Division: 80-year-old spinner takes five wickets!

F DIVISION

HE’S the oldest spinner in town at 80 years young – and still taking wickets!

Topsham St James bowler Dave Vranch sent Cullompton spinning to a 10-run defeat to keep the Bonfire Field team top of the table.

Vranch took a fantastic 5-37 and was well supported by Raj Rao 4-25 to bowl Cullompton out for 126 in reply to Topsham’s modest offering of 136.

Saad Choudhary, called up from Topsham 2nds, held the innings together with a patient 35 and built a couple of good partnerships with Joe Thomlinson (16) and Ross Treleaven (19).

Gary Norman claimed 4-20 for Cully.

Richard Berry then top scored for the Mid Devon side with 37 but, only skipper Craig Hawkins, carrying an injury and batting at number nine, Mark Ashplant and Dave Percy, could each muster knocks of 14 in support.

Jubilant Tops captain Ross Treleaven said: “We were able to keep a side under 130 for the second time in two weeks, which shows what an excellent bowling attack we have at the moment.

“We took all of our chances in the field and kept positive and were able to come out of this with a great result.

“However, our batsmen really need to knuckle down: lots of us got starts but are unable to kick on when it matters. Anyway, we are still Top and that is the target.”

Disappointed opposite number Hawkins said: “We shot ourselves in the foot – again, how we can chase down so confidently 220 plus and then get ourselves in a mess looking at 136 is beyond me.

“I guess it has to be a confidence thing but I know we are better than our current position in the table indicates and perhaps lady luck will begin to come and play with us sooner rather than later.”

Yarcombe sit second, just a point behind Topsham St James after they were six wicket home winners against Newton St Cyres.

Ben Fuzzard claimed four wickets and there were braces of wickets for both Dave Copp and Rex Helston as the Mid Devon visitors were bundled out for110. The back-to-form Jonathan Rich then led the run chase with an imperious unbeaten 62 from the number four slot, leading the home side to 111-4.

Shaldon climbed to third with a three-wicket win over visiting Kingskerswell.

Dave Lear hit an unbeaten 40 and Mark Andrews chipped in with 33 as Kingskerswell were bowled out for 155.

Carl Woolnough claimed 2-17 in 13 excellent overs and Chris White (2-48) was also amongst the wickets. At 65-4 the Shaldon reply was troubled but then skipper Craig Greenwood, in at number seven, steadied the ship and took the reply over the line with an unbeaten 45.

Mark Couch hit 37 and Seamus McKenna hit 34.

Lear completed a fine all-round game for the visitors with 4-55.

Hemyock, still smarting from what they see as an injustice having ten points docked when they called their game off against Shaldon the previous week too early for the league’s liking, made short work of visiting Chelston.

Nick Allen, back playing after a lengthy period of illness, top scored with a superb knock of 46 and John Hurley, who stood down as captain in protest at the league’s decision about the previous week’s cancellation hit an unbeaten 39 to see the hosts to 157.

That proved more than enough as Derek Hart took four wickets for just five runs and Allen completed a fine all round game, claiming a brace, as the visitors were hustled out for 80.

Hurley said: “It was a good way to complete what has been a traumatic week for the club. We really do feel very harshly treated about the postponement and my own feeling is, and I gather it’s one shared by many, is that this will, prove to be the straw that breaks the camels back with regard to our involvement with the league.”

Culmstock’s ground was badly hit by the Friday night rain and that meant no play was possible in their game with Cheriton Fitzpaine.

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773