Devon Cricket Board - Premier Division headlines

Premier Division headlines - run rate comes into play

RUN rate was used for the first time in the Premier Division to settle the outcome of all five games following a change in league rules this season.
The switch to win-lose cricket for the current campaign meant no more draws or dividing up the points when a game is rained off.
So leaders Bovey Tracey lost for the first time this season and bottom side Heathcoat collected their first win, even though their games against Sidmouth and Torquay failed to go the distance.
Bovey Tracey remain top of the table, but their lead has been slashed from 13 to four points as Bradninch won at Budleigh to close the gap on them.
Liam Lewis top scored with 79 and there was a handy 47 from opener Sam Anderson in a Sidmouth total of 255 all out.
Ryan Bougourd and Chris Bradley took three wickets each for Bovey and there were two more for Peter Bradley.
Bovey were 141 for six in reply when rain brought a terminal halt to proceedings in the 34th over.
Peter Bradley top scored with 30 while Neil Hancock made 35 against the club he used to play for. Josh Bess and Will Murray bagged two wickets each.
Bradninch moved past Torquay in to second place thanks to their run-rate win at Budleigh Salteton.
Bob Dawson opened up with 54, Charlie Morris made 47 not out and Gammy Amarasinghe chipped in with 36 as Budleigh got up to 229 for eight in 50 overs.
Paul Tweddle top scored with 84 for Bradninch who were on 173 for three after 28 over and apparently cruising to victory when rain swept in over Ottermouth.
David Lye fired 109 at better than run-a-ball rate for current club Exmouth in their 'win' over his former Sandford team-mates.
Akeel Hosein made a rapid 56 off 27 balls at the end as he and Trevor Anning (38) shoved another 86 on the scoreline, taking it to 283 for five.
In form Andy Buzza - whose skipper Richard Baggs can't understand why the Devon Lions don't want him - had a rare failure when he fell to Simon Ashplant for a single.
Sandford had it all to do at 132 for five in the 30th of their 50 overs when the game was called off.
North Devon could not have cut it much finer against Plymouth, whose margin of defeat at Instow was a miniscule seven hundredths of a run!
Rob Gear (76) and Glen Querl (68) were North Devon's primary run scorers in a fuill 50-over total of 229 for nine. Pick of bowlers with three for 26 was Andy Birkett.
Plymouth were dragged off at 131 for six in reply with Chris Barr on 34 not out. Dan Bowser took three for 46 for North Devon, including a one-handed caught and bowdled to sent back Ben Stein.
Heathcoat's run rate was 0.11 better than Torquay's, not a lot but enough to give them a badly needed win.
Chris Small had a great day for Heathcoat, top scoring with 59 in a total of 240 for noine, then taking three for 36 as the visitors were held to 164 for five.
Opposite number Justin Yau (49) was Torquay's leading run maker.

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