Devon Cricket Board - Spinner Shepherd is star turn!

NORTH DEVON WINDOWS LEAGUE – WEEK 15

DIVISION ONE

BIDEFORD stay top of the First Division after a five-wicket win at Newton Tracey, writes Stephen Birley

Richard Screech scored just under half the hosts runs with a fine knock of 60 but the star of the show with the ball was undoubtedly Paul Shepherd. Bideford's Ian Hayter threw the left arm spinner the ball and his first delivery was promptly despatched into an adjoining field! However, undeterred, the spinner who has worked his way into the 1st XI reckoning with a string of impressive outings for the 2^nd XI then claimed a fivefer, going for only another five runs to finish with figures of 5-11 from 4.5 overs! Hayter also picked up three wickets and the hosts were bowled out for 126. Matt Allin (48) and James Ford (44) had the table toppers closing in on a comfortable victory at 89-0 when a flurry of wickets were taken with Screech finishing with 3-34 to sit tidily with his earlier runs. However Hayter and Mike Young saw Bideford over then line at 127-5.

A delighted Hayter said: “It was a good game played in rtestyi8ng conditions. Paul (Shepherd) has done very well for us though I was considering my options after his first ball sailed over all our heads and out of the ground. Fair play to him, he’d obviously softened the batsmen up with a loosener!”

Hatherleigh stay second after they won a thriller at Instow, beating North Devon by two wickets in a game that had two centurions. Max Curtis (109) and Dan Pickard (94) added 187 for the opening wicket for the home side who then closed on 239-3. Robert Cockwill took 2-44 for Hatherleigh who then timed the run chase to perfection thanks to a 101 knock from Simon Gillespie and a timely 39 from Jack Ashmore. Craig Overton took 2-42 for North Devon who have now lost four times this term and that probably spells the end of their title aspirations.

There was no play in the game at Creedy Park where Filleigh were due to face Sandford.

Newton Tracey 126 (R Screech 60; P Shepherd 5-11, I Hayter 3-20), Bideford 127-5 (M Allin 48, J Ford 44; R Screech 3-34). Bideford (20pts) bt Newton Tracey (5) by 5 wkts.

North Devon 239-3 (M Curtis 109, D Pickard 94; R Cockwill 2-44), Hatherleigh 240-8 (S Gillespie 101, J Ashmore 39; C Overton 2-42). Hatherleigh (20ptsd) bt North Devon (8) by 2 wkts.

Sandford versus Filleigh. No play rain.

DIVISION TWO

THE Division Two programme was hit badly with leaders Barnstaple and Pilton’s home meeting with Lynton and Lynmouth called off as was the game at Shobrooke Park where Morebath were due to play.

They did play at Victoria Park where Weare Giffard were beaten by a single wicket in a close encounter. Billy Curtis (38) and Paul Tuson (33no) were the main run providers in the visitors 139-8. Dave Branch took 3-33 and Ricky Kelly had 2-23 for Victoria Park who were then indebted to a fine 70 from Colin Bettis to lead them to only their second success of the season. Will Anderson chipped in with 20 but the hosts nearly made a pigs ear of it for they slipped from 137-5 to 138-9 before that man Branch swapped bowling duties for batting and, from the number eleven slot, scored the winning runs.

Weare Giffard 139-8 (B Curtis 38, P Tuson 33no; D Branch 3-33, R Kelley 2-23), Victoria Park 140-9 (C Bettis 70, W Anderson 20; G Jones 3-27). Victoria Park (20pts) bt Weare Giffard (10) by 1 wkt.

Barnstaple and Pilton versus Lynton and Lynmouth. No play rain.

Shobrooke Park versus Morebath. No play rain.

DIVISION THREE

LEADERS Halberton had posted a healthy 251-6 and visiting Holsworthy were 27-0 after four overs and two balls when the weather at Samford Peverell closed in and left the game being abandoned. John Chilcott (64), Richie Durrant (39no), Dan Coles (36) and Tom Sambrook (34) all chipped in whilst Ryan Walter claimed 3-39 for Holsworthy. There was no action for either of Halberton’s nearest challengers with second-placed Bratton Fleming off at Bude and it was a similar story for Newton Tracey II who were off at Filleigh II. North Devon climbed into third spot with a 26 run win at Bideford II where they were led to 161-8 by a knock of 57 from Bob Heaman and 42 from Tom Stanton. Elliott Binns claimed 4-34 for Bideford II and then top scored with 54 but only Jay Corden (24) also made runs as Simon Pomeroy took 5-28 leaving Bideford losing their last wicket on 135.

North Devon II 161-8 (B Heaman 57, T Stanton 42; E Binns 4-34), Bideford II 135 (E Binns 54, J Corden 24; S Pomeroy 5-28). North Devon II (20pts) bt Bideford II ((8) by 26 runs.

Halberton 251-6 (J Chilcott 64, R Durrant 39no, D Coles 36, T Sambrook 34; R Walter 3-39), Holsworthy 27-0. rsp. Match abandoned.

Bude versus Bratton Fleming. No play rain.

Filleigh II versus Newton Tracey II. No play rain.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four two of the three games were played. The only casualty was the section’s Match of the day between the sides sitting first and second. Belstone’s ground was unfit for play against visiting Petrockstowe.

They did play at North Molton where Victoria Park II claimed a seven wicket win.

Adam Crispin top scored with 28 for the hosts who were bundled out for 84 with Tom Hayne claiming 3-3 and Paul Schiller taking 3-10. Steven Oliver then hit an unbeaten 48 as Victoria Park got home for the loss of just three wickets all taken by James Tapp (3-28).

Westleigh followed their victory the week before when they ended the unbeaten record of table topping Belstone with a 21 run home win over Braunton Kelsey. Lee Farrant hit an unbeaten 36 to lead the ghosts to 182. Luke Purkiss chipped in with 34 whilst Gary Gomez (3-11) and Callum Mitchell (3-44) were the principle wicket takers. Braunton Kelsey were then bowled out for 161 with only Alec Hodges (56) and Ian Roberts (35) making much progress as Luke Purkiss (3-19), Michael Merrick (2-29) and Andy Farrant (2-19) did the wicket taking for victorious Westleigh.

Belstone versus Petrockstowe. No play rain.

North Molton 84 (A Crispin 28; T Haynes 3-3, P Schiller 3-10), Victoria Park II 85-3 (S Oliver 48no; J Tapp 3-28). Victoria Park II (20pts) bt North Molton (3) by 7 wkts.

Westleigh 182 (L Farrant 36no, L Purkiss 34; Gomes 3-11, C Mitchell 3-44), Braunton Kelsey 161 (A Hodges 56, I Roberts 35; L Purkiss 3-19, M Merrick 2-27, A Farrant 2-19). Westleigh (20ptsd) bt Braunton Kelsey (8) by 21 runs.

DIVISION FIVE

THERE was a 122 run win for Barnstaple and Pilton III at Cheriton Fitzpaine in a contest played in almost incessant drizzle. Martin Ash (56) and James Rowe (37) were the top scorers for Barum with the prized wicket of Brian Roe claimed by Carl Steele for a duck! Mark Shear finished with the best Cherries bowling figures of 2-30. Mike Foan then fell for a duck for the hosts but 14-year old Red Evans, using a Foan bat, went onto strike a superb 56 and Jim Cutler chipped in with 23 as the Cherries were bowled out for 126. Nigel Rowe took 3-17 and Chris Newton bagged a brace for Barum.

Barnstaple and Pilton III 248-8 (M Ash 56, J Rowe 37; M Shear 2-30), Cheriton Fitzpaine 126 (R Evans 56, J Cutler 23; N Rowe 3-17, C Newton 2-21). Barnstaple and Pilton III (20pts) bt Cheriton Fitzpaine (2) by 122 runs.

Nomansland versus Heathcoat II – not received.