Devon Cricket Board - D Division West: Six from six for Kerswell

D Division West: Six from six for Kerswell

D DIVISION WEST

KINGSKERSWELL maintained their 100 per cent record at the top of the table with an emphatic nine-wicket win over bottom side Whitchurch.

Two overs into the game the heavens opened and the stoppage meant a reduction down to 36 overs a side.

Tight bowling Pieter Douglas (0 for 9 off six overs) and Mark Berry (one for 22 off 11 overs) meant Whitchurch were always likely to post a modest total.

Only some middle-order hitting by Josh Vernon (30) allowed them to post a respectable score of 113 for eight.

The outstanding Kerswell bowler was Erik Gregersen (5-24), who managed to complete his five-wicket haul off the last ball of the Whitchurch innings.

Kerswell took only 19 overs to knock off the runs required with all their 3 batters contributing, Mike Etherington (43), Kevin Jones (33 no) and Aron Owen (31 no).

After the game Kerswell skipper Nigel Butt said: “Six wins out of six is a sensational start, but we have three tough games coming up including this Saturday against Torquay who are always dangerous.

“Everyone needs to remain focused and if we do there is no reason why we cannot continue to produce this sort of cricket.”

Ashburton made it four wins in six starts to consolidate third place in the table when they defeated Torquay by 59 runs.

Ashes thought they had scored 200 for seven for maximum bonus points, but a tea-time recount revealed a true total of 199 for seven one point fewer.

There was some solid batting all down the order. Ross Field, returning after around 20 years, picked up 37. He was not alone with Tony Lacey (40), Alan Churchill (31), Andy Harvey (24no) and Matt Coon (20) all contributing.

Bowling honours were shared betweeen Ollie Hunt (2-33), Tom Mason (2-45) and Joe Crooks (2-51).

Torquay’s keeper Steve Craig pulled a calf muscle after only 15 minutes and left the field for treatment. He later returned to umpire while Torquay’s umpire Peter Hunt acted as a substitute fielder for the rest of the innings

Torquay only had two batsmen with 20 runs or more. James Fulner (38) was the pick of them, playing some great shots straight down the ground until undone by the willy campaigner Steve Harvey (1-27).

Skipper Joe Crooks (25) was the other to contribute, but a soft caught and bowled by Matt Coon accounted for him.

Coon (5-19) picked up a five wickets to celebrate his appointment as skipper for the seconds for the remainder of the season

Andy Harvey (3-43) also troubled the batsmen as Torquay subsided to 140 all out

Elsewhere in the D Division West, Cockington (148-8) held on for a draw at Chagford (218-8). Paul Ridgers top scored for Chagford with 79.

Dartington & Totnes came off worst against second-placed Lewdown, who beat them by 46 runs.

Ollie Brown (80) and Mark Gibbs (60) steeted Lewdown towards 227 all out. Mick Rusling and Tom Petherick shared six of the wickets to fall.

Gavin Colegate (37) and Liam Bligh (61) gave D&T some hope, but Adi Clements (3-21) and Steve Butler (5-34) got stuck into the middle order as D&T were dismissed for 181.

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