South Devon clubs beat the weather for crucial cricket points

Despite very disappointing early summer weather, the Tolchards Devon Cricket League has got away relatively unscathed. In week seven, heavy showers caused minor delays to several games, but not enough to thwart win or lose conclusions for local teams.

The Premier Division is beginning to look like a two-horse race at the top and bottom. Sandford’s 118-run win at Cornwood keeps them four points clear of Bradninch and Kentisbeare, who easily brushed aside a struggling Bovey Tracey by 8 wickets.

Bovey are now just one point ahead of bottom club Plympton, who were beaten in a similar (9 wicket) fashion by Exeter.

Paignton’s hopes of a top-half finish took another jolt, with a 6-wicket loss at Sidmouth. Young opener Brenton Pedley compiled his maiden 1st XI half century (51) in an opening stand of 99 with Noah Wright (40). But Paignton did not kick on, finishing on 178-9. Sidmouth reached their target, losing only four wickets, inside 30 overs.

Paignton (8th) visit Cornwood (3rd) this Saturday with Bovey back home to play Sidmouth (6th).

Torquay and Kingskerswell had Nathan Roux to thank again for their 98-run A Division win over local rivals Abbotskerswell at Two Mile Oak. Roux’s stylish 134 not out, his third century of the season, was the cement in a total of 267 all out. Three wickets each in the innings for brothers Parminder and Inder Singh.

Heavy showers during the innings break meant a revised target of 226 from 36 overs, but a runs-starved Abbotskerswell never got going, or wanted to get going, stuttering to 127-7 as the overs ran out. Three wickets each for Blaise Baker and Harry Passenger.

Abbots remain bottom of the table with Torquay and Kingskerswell moving up to 6th. Saturday sees Abbots hosting Plymouth (3rd), as Torquay and Kingskerswell travel to The Ring to play Tavistock (8th).

Barton’s long B Division trip to Westward Ho! ended in a frustrating 7-run loss after a very promising start to their reply. Shaun Needham (83) and Tarisai Musakanda (75) put on 151 for the first wicket, chasing down a revised 212 to win from 36 overs.

With 12 needed from the final over, Jack Ford held his nerve with the ball, conceding one single from the last three balls, to give the home side the win.

Barton’s loss and Stoke Gabriel’s 5-wicket win at Chudleigh moves Stoke to the top of the table. Jake Robinson’s 49 not out steered them to victory with six overs to spare in a condensed 41 overs-a-side contest. Robinson earlier returned figures of 3-30 in Chudleigh’s 163-7.

Ipplepen fell 43 runs short at Bovey Tracey 2nds in another match reduced to 41 overs per side following shower interruptions. Teignmouth and Shaldon’s visit to Clyst St. George resulted in their second win on the bounce.

Buhle Mabaso claimed 4-37 as Clyst ran up 277-6. Seamus McKenna (63) and Todd Ballman (82 not out) gave Teigns the best of starts, further helped by Ruben Minnaar’s 74 not out, to record an impressive 8-wicket win with five overs to spare.

Week eight sees second play first as Barton visit Stoke Gabriel. Teignmouth and Shaldon (8th) travel to Chudleigh (10th) and Ipplepen (5th) are on the north coast to play Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! (7th).

The C Division West game of the day was at Queens Park, where Paignton 2nds showed their championship potential in comfortably beating Ivybridge by 8 wickets, leapfrogging them to the top, with a healthy nine point lead, in the process.

Three wickets each for Jack Harman and George Woodcock as Ivybridge were held to 168-9 from 40 overs. Only 28.3 overs were needed for Paignton to win for the loss of only two wickets. Neil Hancock, now opting to play second team cricket, undefeated on 86.

North Boundary Road is a much happier place now than it was in May, with Brixham notching their third win in as many weeks. Kingsbridge’s target of 166 looked attainable until Brixham’s attack started to fire. Brad McKee (3-21) and Lee Upham (5-12) ruthlessly combining to dismiss them for just 74 inside 29 overs.

South Devon secured a valuable 7-wicket win at Plymouth 2nds. Lahiru Samaradivakara (4-28) and Toby Goodman (3-30) were the pick of the bowlers as Plymouth limped to 128 all out. Mark Andrews’ patient 73 not out guided South Devon home with plenty of overs to spare.

Next up for Brixham is the same away trip to Mount Wise to meet Plymouth 2nds. New leaders Paignton 2nds are home again to Cornwood 2nds and South Devon take on Sandford 2nds at Marsh Road, Newton Abbot.

Babbacombe returned to the top of D Division West after a comfortable 7-wicket win at Ivybridge 2nds. They travel down the A38 once again this Saturday to face Plymouth CS and Roborough (3rd).