With three Saturdays remaining in the Tolchards Devon Cricket League, Bradninch and Kentisbeare have taken a huge step towards their second Premier Division title in three years by beating closest rivals Sandford by five wickets at Kensham Park and opening-up a lead of 26 points.
At the foot of the table, Bovey Tracey’s great escape hit the buffers but only after a spirited effort at home to in-form Exeter. Bovey let Exeter get too many runs with 297-9, Finlay Hill top scoring with 93 not out. Jake Pascoe (54) and Ed Foreman (52) provided hope with their prudent partnership of 123 for the third wicket, but Bovey fell behind the run-rate at the wrong time, giving themselves too much to do, eventually running out of overs at 248-8.
Paignton (147 points) jumped back over Bovey (138) into eighth following a clinical win over rock-bottom Plympton (82). Abhay Negi quickly took the first five wickets and had Plympton reeling at 35-5. They recovered slightly to 87 all out, but it proved a painless task for Paignton, sailing home,for the loss of only one wicket, inside thirteen overs. Luke Medlock smashing 65 of the 88 required.
Paignton play Sidmouth at Queens Park next, as Bovey host Bradninch and Kentisbeare. The two clash at Bovey on the last day (August) 31, although it is important to stress that both clubs may be saved from relegation by the same technicality that disallowed Kilmington’s promotion last year, and in-turn spared Bovey the drop.
As it stands, the rules governing club facilities, structure and youth provision prevent promotion to the Premier Division for both Bridestowe and Torquay and Kingskerswell, if either finishes top or runners-up to expected champions North Devon.
In the A Division, Torquay and Kingskerswell’s fragile middle-order and tail was again their undoing at Instow. Put into bat, they could only muster 113 all out, Nathan Roux top scoring with 42. North Devon patiently knocked off the runs, inside 22 overs, for a seven-wicket win and a 24-point lead over Bridestowe in second. Torquay and KK remain third a further fifteen points behind.
Abbotskerswell’s survival may be going to the last match after pulling off another vital win, by 62 runs, against Thorverton at Two Mile Oak. James Tyler hit 78 not out in their 212-9, then three wickets each for Zahed Hussain and Inder Singh saw Thorverton reduced to 150 all out.
Abbots are still twenty-six points adrift at the bottom but will now surely fancy their chances at The Rec on Saturday on the back of this win and Torquay and KK’s recent decline with the bat.
Barton are a step closer to the B Division championship after a clear-cut 112 win at title rivals Cullompton. Put into bat, Barton did not hang about. Another 75 for Tarisai Musakanda (including 52 in boundaries), 66 from Nick Watkin, plus 50s from Adam Parker (59) and Cole Harford (55 not out) helped build a sturdy 321-6.
Showers meant a slightly reduced target of 313 for Cullompton, but Barton’s eight bowlers combined to bowl them out for 200 in reply. Finley Last (4-17) and Musakanda (3-19) the pick. Barton jump back over Cullompton to the top and lead them by ten points with three to play.
Stoke Gabriel have hit a bad run at the wrong time. They remain third, twenty-four points behind Cullompton, despite a seven-wicket loss at Budleigh Salterton. Stoke started well and were 132-2, before being held to 217-9. Abhishek Anand (71) and Jack Tolley (55) both in the runs, but the eight bowlers utilised could not prevent Budleigh’s batters getting them home with five overs to spare.
Elsewhere, Teignmouth and Shaldon now find themselves in a relegation scrap after a 48-run loss at Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! and Chudleigh are winless no more following a 30-run defeat of Ipplepen at Kate Brook.
Week 16 sees top of the league Barton at home to Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! (4 th ),Cullompton (2nd ) host Budleigh Salterton (5th ) and Stoke Gabriel (3rd ) need to beat bottom-placed Chudleigh at home to rekindle their fading promotion hopes. Teignmouth and Shaldon (8th ) must beat relegation rivals Clyst St. George (9 th ) at home and Ipplepen (6 th ) host Bovey Tracey 2nds (7 th ).
In C Division West, Paignton 2nds beat Kingsbridge by six wickets to maintain their promotion hopes in a division where only the champions are promoted. They trail leaders Ivybridge by only four points and the two meet in a huge title decider at Filham Park on Saturday.
Brixham drop to sixth place after a 72-run loss at Sandford 2nds and South Devon still have relegation anxieties after a six-wicket home loss to Ashburton. They will be hopeful of a positive response against bottom-placed Plymouth 2nds at home on Saturday, when Brixham travel down to Kingsbridge (4th).
