Devon Cricket Board - F Division: Max pointer for Tops

F Division: Max pointer for Tops

F DIVISION

TOPSHAM St James claimed yet another maximum points win with a 92-run victory at Hemyock where they bowled the hosts out for 146 after batting first and scoring 234-7.

Nick Horne top scored with 86 and brother Johnnie chipped in with 38 whilst young Alex Sparkes was again amongst the runs with a knock of 28.

Dave Hart claimed 3-20 for the Mid Devon men who were then led in the run chase by a fine John Hurley innings of 66.

It was the Topsham St James young spinners who held centre stage post tea as Tom Richardson claimed 3-9 – this a week after his three wickets for one run, and Joe Thomlinson picked up 2-1 with the final Hemyock wicket falling on 146.

Shaldon remain right on the shoulder of F Division table toppers Topsham St James after they matched the Exeter side’s maximum points haul with a three wicket home win over Chelston.

Richard Molloy top scored for Chelston with 44 in a total of 193 all out as Mark Couch claimed his second fivefer of the season against them! When the sides met at Chelston earlier in the season Couch took 5-15 and this time he claimed 5-50 to give him seasons figures of 10-66 against Chelston! Jack Saunders also bagged a pair (2-22) and then Shamus McKenna, batting at number three, hit s sparkling unbeaten 103 to see Shaldon home with three wickets to spare.

Todd Ballman was again amongst the runs with 37.

Singh took 3-41 for the visitors.

Yarcombe continue to the best of the rest behind the F Division top, two and they were good value for a maximum point win at home to Cullompton.

Malcolm Paiva top scored with 66 for the Mid Devon side who, missing skipper Craig Hawkins who was attending a wedding, were bowled out for 163.

James Mitchum claimed 4-16 in four overs but it was the spell of 4-48 from a dozen overs by Matthew Barnacle that broke the back of the visitors batting.

With normal opener David Patch having hurt his back in the field his opening slot went to skipper Nigel Parris who was there at the close with an unbeaten 49 to his name.

Jonathan Rich was the other not out batsman at the close with 51.

Simon Durrant had earlier chipped in with 24.

A delighted Parris said: “It was a good all-round effort and we deserved to win.

"Matthew (Barnacle) bowled superbly, he and James (Mitchum) played key roles.

"From here on in it’s simply a case of doing what we can to chip away at the gap between us and the top two.”

Yarcombe play the bottom two over the next fortnight before facing Shaldon after which they bring the curtain down on the season with a visit to Newton St Cyres.

Newton St Cyres were seven wicket winners at home to a Culmstock side they bowled out for 121.

Henry Weeks (32) and Jon Pyle (30no) were the only visiting batsmen to prosper as Tom Dowell claimed 3-31 and three other home bowlers bagged a brace of wickets.

Dave Harris then hit an unbeaten 55 and Paul McCutcheon chipped in with 22 as the home side strolled to victory.

Kingskerswell have not yet given up on a promotion place and they did their chances no harm with a 65 run win in a low scoring affair at home to Exeter Civil Service.

At 34-5 Kingskerswell were in all sorts of bother but then 17-year-old Charlie Hill came to the rescue with a fine knock of 37 and the last pair Ellis Denega (19no) and Chris Robson-Close (14) guided the hosts to 157.

Paul Skidmore claimed 4-17 for the visitors who were then bundled out for just 92.

Nick Rowe (20) was the only visiting bat to resist for long as Paul Harding (3-17) led the home effort with the ball.

“A delighted Paul Mitchell said: “It was great cricket by my side.

With half the team back in the hutch for 34 we were in all sorts of trouble and then the young brigade took charge.

“Even then at tea I felt we were some way short of a winning total but the bowlers made sure it was actually more than enough.

“It was a real team effort.”

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