Devon Cricket Board - Upside down look to top flight

FARM & COUNTRY COTTAGES

NORTH DEVON LEAGUE WEEK 11

Results & Tables

DIVISION ONE

NORTH Devon were beaten for the fourth time this season when they went down by two wickets at Hatherleigh.

Indeed the top flight has a strange look about it with Sandford propping the table up and North Devon sat second from bottom!

Dan Bowser (88) and Alex Smith (56), together with Neil Bettis (33), led the reigning champions to 240-7. Ross Cherrington claimed 3-35 for the hosts who then got home with two wickets, and as many overs, to spare. Gareth Tidball was the star of the run chase, opening the batting and carrying his bat to the close to be unbeaten on 73. Ryan Davies (64) and Rob Mutch (57) also played key innings whilst Bowser and Max Curtis both bagged braces of wickets for the vanquished visitors.

The other top flight game was at Knightshayes where Bideford were put to the sword, suffering a 70 run defeat at the hands of Heathcoat.

The home side batted first and lost two wickets for just 26 runs at which stage Liam Lewis was joined by Chris Small. No further wickets were lost and, at the close of the innings, Small trooped off with an unbeaten 107 to his name and Lewis with an un beaten 126 – the pair adding 236 runs for the unbroken third wicket.

James Ford (52) and Matt Allin (39) were the principle run getters for the visitors in a reply of 198. Sam Smith (3-32), Martyn Williams (3-34), Pete Randerson (2-4) and Joe Wadham (2-25), were the wicket takers for the Mid Devon side.

DIVISION TWO

THE weekend did have four matches scheduled but only one saw action! The Saturday game at Victoria Park where Lynton & Lynmouth were the scheduled visitors fell to the rain.

The same fate befell the Sunday game at what was a soggy Witheridge wicket, which killed off any hope of play between Incorrigibles and Victoria Park. Morebath, not for the first time this season, were unable to raise a team, for the trip to table topping Barnstaple and Pilton and so forfeited the match, and lost a further two points against their average total which sees them slip to the foot of the table.

The one venue that saw play was Shebbear where Beaford maintained their title challenge with a 63 run victory.

Daniel Lane top scored for the visitors with 81 in a total of 268-8. Ollie Wicket (79) and Charlie Neilsen (61) then led the reply which saw the final wicket fall with the score on 205.

DIVISION THREE

THERE were a couple of surprise defeats with morning leaders Halberton slipping to a six wicket loss at Sandford II and Newton Tracey were also beaten, going down by four runs in a thriller at home to Bude.

Those second defeats of the season for Halberton and Newton Tracey allowed Bratton Fleming to go top of the table after they won by three wickets at Bideford II. The hosts batted first and were led to 128 by 14-year-old Reece Stanbury who hit 39 whilst John Weeks chipped in with 27. Paddy Dartnoll (3-11) and Murray Sharpe (2-8) claimed wickets for the visitors who were led to victory by Pat Crane with an unbeaten 54. Paul Shepherd certainly did his best for the Bideford cause. He sent down his nine overs claiming six wickets for just 13 runs!

Warren Rumble (73), Ben Purcell (66) and Matt Mansbridge (45no) guided Bude to 233-3 at Newton Tracey. That proved just about enough to win with the home side closing a single blow from victory, their final wicket falling on 229 in the penultimate over of a real thriller. John Whormsley (65) and Connor Nash (51no) were the principle run getters for Newton Tracey whilst Rumble completed a fine all-round display with 4-60.

Tom Sambrook stroked his way to a superb 96, leading Halberton to 250-8 at Sandford II. Richard Durrant chipped in with an unbeaten 27 and the visitors’ cause was aided by a whopping 69 extra’s! Charlie Hancock took 3-46 for the Creedy Park side. Bradley Discombe then plundered a magnificent 98 as he and Sean Hawkins (55) led the ultimately successful run chase that ended on 251-4.

DIVISION FOUR

TIM Lane (51), Josh Johnston (43) and Andy Jeffrey (32) scored the bulk of the Victoria Park II total of 178-8.

Andy Paddison claimed 4-12 and Brice Peterson took 2-21 for Braunton Kelseymen who then sailed to a nine wicket win thanks to the efforts of Tom Rowbotham (79no) and Martin Seward (73no). Mike Harris bowled superbly for Victoria Park. He sent down nine overs, claimed the only home wicket to fall, and concede just ten runs!

DIVISION FIVE

WILLIAM Browne led the successful Heathcoat II run chase with 57 in his side’s 132-3, replying to the Filleigh III 130 all out. Joel Quinn top scored for the home side with 52 whilst Nick Lineham (4-10) and Nick Goulty (4-38) combined for the visitors with great effect. Carl Shaw took 2-8 for the beaten hosts.

Ryan Bowden (111) and Jamie Capper (110) took Nomansland to 320-5 at Bishops Nympton who were then bowled out for 183. Skipper Kelvyn Warren top scored for his side with an unbeaten 42 and Richard Simmons chipped in with 36. Dave Gooding claimed 3-32 for the Witheridge side.