Devon Cricket Board - A Division round-up: Bryan wants improvements

WHAT a finish! Plymstock’s game with Braunton went right down to the wire before the Dean Cross side clinched a six-run win.
There were two tons – one each for Plymstocks’ James Nicholls and Braunton’s Tom Mitcham – which led to a thrilling conclusion.
Braunton wouldn’t stop chasing a target of 232 and got down to the last over from Plymstock captain Seb Jordan needing 17 to win.
Jordan kept Braunton to 10 to give Plymstock their first league win since the opening day of the season.
“Six overs out Braunton were 192 for five and if anyone was going to win it they were,” said vice-captain Nicholls.
“Hal Kerton came back for a second spell at the end and bowled superbly – three wickets for 22 runs in five overs.
“Seb also bowled brilliantly – 45 off seven – and we just kept Braunton out.
“You could say the bowlers won it for us and I wouldn’t argue with that.
“But in our last four overs batting we put on 39 and that probably had something to do with it as well.”
Nicholls, who arrived from Plymouth last season, made a top score of 105 not out in Plymstock’s total of 231 for six. His ton came off 81 balls and included a six and 14 fours.
It was Nicholls’s first ton for Plymstock, although he did make one for Plymouth against Abbotskerswell .
Along the way there were stands of 53 with Mark Abbott (34) and 48 with Dan Robotham (20).
In a real see-saw game it seemed Plymstock were on top after reducing bottom side Braunton to 100 for five – Abbott (3-33) doing the damage and Mark Orchard pinning them down.
Then Mitcham (101no) and Alex Hodges (36) got going and it was game on.
“It was a cracking game of cricket and a great one to win,” said Nicholls.
“We had to work hard for it and the confidence generated we can take into the derby game with Plympton this Saturday.”

RYAN Skinner produced a devastating spell of bowling to speed Plympton to a 46-run win over Abbotskerswell.
Jeremy Williams had top scored with 60 as Plympton recovered from 98 for five to make 217 for seven.
Abbots were in hot pursuit at 134 for five and Plympton needed to slow them down.
A three-wicket burst from Skinner did the trick as Abbots slumped to 171 all out with seven overs to go.
Skinner, who took six for 20, received a hearty slap on the back from skipper Williams, who said: “the bowling plaudits have to go to Ryan.
“In an exceptional comeback spell Ryan blew away their tail in the space of 10 balls.”
After Andy Walter went for 32, Plympton slowed against Abbots’ bowlers Richard Acton (2-31) and Hugo Whitlock (3-46).
Ross Farrer (49no) and Williams put on 75 to get Plympton motoring again.
“We were struggling after going from 40 for none to 98 for five and had to rebuild to get a respectable total,” said Williams.
Acton (52) and Aussie Ryan Williams (79) had Abbots doing all the right things before Williams brought Skinner back into the attack.

SANDFORD held their nerve against chasing Barton to win a close encounter by 14 runs.
When Barton were 84 for eight chasing 201 to win it should have been all over bar the shouting.
Barton don’t lack depth in their batting though and with former Devon player Andy Hele holding it together they kept on chasing.
A stand of 64 for the ninth wicket between Hele (59no) and Tom Porter (38) had Sandford rattled.
Sandford were pleased to see the back of Porter, but not for long as last man Stuart Bowker wasn’t going to be shifted n a hurry.
Although Bowker only made two runs, his stand with Hele was worth another 38.
With more than six overs to go when Bowker was finally dismissed, and 15 runs needed to win, it was a bit too close for comfort for Sandford skipper Simon Ashplant.
Earlier, Sandford had needed some repair work of their own after dipping to 94 for five with Richard Tucker (27) having the only worthwhile score.
Scott Tremayne (29) and Ryan Glass (33) added a useful 41 then Ashplant helped Pete Steer (27) notch 39 for the eighth wicket – priceless runs as things turned out.
Bowker’s left-arm spin garnered figures of three for 39. Meanest of the bowlers with two for eight of nine overs – six off them maidens – was Barton skipper Adam Parker.
Sandford are away to Braunton this Saturday.

STEFFAN Jones and skipper Sam Smith both hit half centuries to set A Division leaders Heathcoat on course for a 134-run win at Brixham.
Former Somerset star Jones nailed 58 and Smith 60 as Heathcoat posted 283 fr eight.
Tom Frankpitt weighed in with 45.
Brixham were all out for 148 in reply with Kyle Schreuder making a top score of 55,
The wickets were shared around for Heathcoat with Jason Parr (3-36) having an edge over the rest.
It’s Paignton at home this Saturday for Heathcoat in a top-of-the- table clash between first and second.
If Sunday’s Devon Cup game between the two protagonists is anything to go by – Paignton won by two runs – it is going to be a close one.
Skipper Smith feels Heathcoat are in pretty good shape for the game, although there is always room for improvement.
“Our batting was much improved at Brixham, but I still want to see big scores from the top order,” said Smith.
“The bowlers have to make sure they share the work load and built a lot of pressure – and our out fielding must still be improved.”

HATHERLEIGH gave Paignton a run for their money before going down by four wickets in a low-scoring affair.
Gareth Tidball made a top score of 30 for Hatherleigh, who were bowled out for 113 by George Yates (4-25), George Benton (2-39) and Phil Allen (2-20).
Hatherleigh were 60 for two at one stage, then collapsed to 78 for seven and were in all sorts of trouble.
Paignton struggled from the start against Charlie Nielson (3-24) and Mark Lake (2-20), who reduced them to 49 for five then 70 for six.
Chris Kelmere (45no) and Fanie deVillers (28) got Paignton back on track with Benton (9no) there at the end.
That’s four wins on the spin now for Paignton, but captain Connor Bryan isn’t resting on any laurels.
“We Bowled too many extras so we will look to improve that during the week, however our catching and fielding was good,” said Bryan.
“We will keep improving week by week and look to keep picking up wins.”