Devon Cricket Board - F Division round-up

F DIVISION

KINGSKERSWELL captain Paul Mitchell has had plenty of time to reflect on his decision to declare early in the aftermath of the six-wicket defeat by Cullompton.

   Mitchell declared four overs early to buy extra time in which to bowl Cully out to win the match.

   Conditions deteriorated the longer the game went on and Mitchell found he couldn’t wheel out his quicker bowlers in the damp and gloom, which would have risked the umpires intervening.

   “It was a very despondent changing room after the game and as anyone that has captained a cricket team at any level will tell you, hindsight is a wonderful thing,” said Mitchell.

   “With the rain clouds building and the forecast for heavy rain to come in at seven o'clock, I declared when we had past 200 even though we had a more than capable last pair to face the last four overs and perhaps grab another 20-30 runs.

   “I wanted to win a game of cricket and thought our best chance was to get into Cullompton sooner rather than later.

   “I wasn’t being arrogant or indeed disrespectful to Cullompton, I just wanted to give us the best chance of winning the game.

   “I considered declaring at 175, and spoke at the crease with Aron Owen about it, but as we were going well we decided to push on for 200.

   I took Chris Robson-Close off after he bowled one over in his second spell and picked up the sixth wicket. It became very dark and I didn’t want to put the umpires into the position of taking us off the field of play because I had my quickest bowler on.

   Mark Kenyon, Aron Owen, Mark Bryant and Charlie Hill were available to bowl, none of which I used when perhaps I should have?

   Kerswell lost debutant Mark Bryant lbw in the first over and at 46 for four needed partnerships.

   Owen (79), John Elliott and U17 captain Charlie Hill took Kerswell past the 100 mark. A partnership of 80 with Mitchell (39) for the seventh brought up the 200.

   Gary Norman (3-50) and Rob McManus (3-45) were the principle wicket takers.

   At 128 for six with Rob Berry gone for 43 and Malcom Pavia for 33, Cully appeared to have it all to do.

   Adrian Stamp (57no) and Gary Norman (23no) saw the chase through to the end.

   Lacey with two for 54 from 13 was the pick of Kerswells bowlers.

   Cully skipper Craig Hawkins expects big things this season and his team did him proud on the opening day.

   A delighted Hawkins said: “The all-round performance confirmed everything I felt about this side.

   “We fielded superbly and the home skipper picked up on that factor post match.

   “I think by declaring they felt they had sufficient but we batted down the order with Andy very much the Cullompton version of Chris Gale!

   “It’s a great start and we move on quickly to another opening day winner, Yarcombe and Stockland on Saturday, when we’ll be looking to claim another victory.”

   Hemyock made a winning start with a 36-run win over another Mid Devon side, Cheriton Fitzpaine. John Hurley (82) and Mark Ellacott (55) combined to take Hemyock to 176. Ben Coe then struck 54 for the Cherries who were bowled out for 140 with John Hendra (3-53) and Dave Hart (3-23), the principle wicket takers.

   Topsham St James’ skipper Ross Treleaven was delighted with his charges as they opened their season with a 14-run victory at home to 10-man Culmstock.

   Tom Richardson (68) and Joe Tomlinson (55) combined to put on a century stand for the third wicket helping to see the Bonfire Fire side to a close of 219-9.

   Marcus Busch (3-52) and Toby Martin (3-28) took wickets for Culmstock who were well on their way to victory with Spencer Popham (106) and Alex Brooks (56) at the crease.

   Treleaven broke the partnership and the reply floundered as the visitors were further hampered when one of their ten had to leave early for work and the reply closed on 205 with no one else to bat.

   Treleaven said: “The team showed really good character and I am very pleased with them all.

   “That was a game we could easily have lost as they were well on their way until we broke their prolific partnership.

   “I could not have asked for anything more than a 20-point haul on the opening day and it sets us up nicely for the next game against a much changed Shaldon side that, I am sure, will be looking to have as good a season.

   Yarcombe made a winning start with an 89 run win over Chelston. David Patch (57) and a couple of unbeaten knocks of 27 from Ben Reed and Rex Elston, took Yarcombe to 165-5.

   The bowlers took charge after tea with Ben Fuzzard returning remarkable figures of 4-2. Mike Barnes bagged a brace (2-24) whilst Elston completed a fine all-round individual effort with 3-20 as Chelston were bowled out for just 76.

   Newton St Cyres were 29-run winners over Exeter CS. The Mid-Devon side batted first and closed on 223-5. The Civil Servants were then bundled out for 194.