Devon Cricket Board - B Division - Codling back with half century

B Division - Codling back with half century

ANDREW Codling signed in with a maiden half-century second time around as Shobrooke Park thumped ailing South Devon by 164 runs.
Shobrooke totted up 280 for eight declared in 39.5 overs, led from the top by veteran left-hander Richard Pyle with 60.

Pyle and Jon James hoisted 68 for the second wicket, then Codling (59) and Matt Blakeney added another 63 for the fifth wicket.

Just to underline their superiority with the bat, Chris Simpson plundered another 42 for Shobrooke before the declaration.

Keeper-batter Codling rejoined Shobrooke last week having been with Thorverton for the past two seasons.

South Devon made a respectable start – they were 80 for one and 109 for three – but once skipper Jonty Parsons got out for 48 there wasn’t much to come.

Eight wickets went for seven runs as left-armer Simpson (6-36) and skipper Justin Dollow ran through South Devon like a dose of salts.

That’s four wins in the last five starts for Shobrooke, who are up to fifth going into Saturday’s trip to Tavistock.

Dollow said it was a good win, but not without a few worrying moments.

“South Devon got off to a flyer chasing 280 - they got 100 in the first 12 overs thanks to a good innings from Jonty Parsons - and I began to wonder about the decision to declare to get the extra two points,” said Dollow.

“Once we were able to get Parsons out, I had a feeling we had the game in the bag.”

“We batted very well up front and an excellent spell from Chris Simpson meant we were able to finish off the game just before the heavens opened.”

ALPHINGTON could do with a pick-me-up against Thorverton at the Chronicles after losing by three wickets at Barnstaple.

For another defeat would damage the 13-point safety net between Alphas and the bottom two, dragging them into the relegation scrap.

Chasing Alphingtopn’s 148 all out – Dinesh Raheja top scoring with 56 and Alan Davey making 30 – B&P had dipped to 97 for seven in reply.

Ed Yeo had been and gone for 48 by the time Lee Cole came out to bat at number nine, lower than usual due to a broken finger. Cole’s 27 not out won it for B&P

Alphngton had shared the wicket taking around with two each for Rahejha, James Knight and Paul James.

Cole got his head down to make an unbeaten 27 as B&P got over the line in the 38th over of a rain-affected game.

Earlier, there were three wickets each for Henry McEndoo (3-38) and Steve Moore (3-26) when Alphington batted.

Alphington skipper Stuart Shaw said he could see where it went wrong for his side, which made it all the more frustrating.

“Even though we gave away too many cheap wickets, I thought 180 would be a decent total to defend looking at the wicket before the match,” said Shaw.

“Our good points were our bowling and fielding which made up for our poor batting, even though we lost the game.

“The rain played a bit part in our downfall, especially as we came off four times.

“The ball was hard to grip and although we had a chance at 97 for seven we could not break the partnership.

“I was a little frustrated by our performance, but we need to put that behind us and move on to Thorverton this Saturday.”

THORVERTON’S worries at the foot of the table show no signs of easing after they were seven-wicket losers against Tavistock.

Dave Baldock marked his return to the side after a week in the 2nd XI with a top score of 77 in Thors’ total of 169 all out. Will Denford chipped in with 32.

Pick of the Tavvy bowlers by a distance with five for 16 was Travis Muller.

Tavistock were pointed in the right direction by Ian Gray (55) and Aaron Churchill (38), Dave Manning (36no) wrapped things up.

Thorverton head into their game against Alphington this Saturday anxious to avoid a fifth straight defeat.

MARCO Marias hit a century for Lewdown in their rain-ruined game at Stoke Gabriel.

Bad weather meant the game was reduced to 36 overs from 45 – not that Marias seemed too worried.

Marias shared in a stand of 166 with Dave Ball (36) in a Lewdown total of 195 all out with two balls to go.

There were three wickets each for Angus Lee (3-43) and Josh Dowling (3-17).

The heavens emptied during the tea interval and no more play was possible.

There was no cricket at all in the top-of-the-table meeting which should have taken place between Ivybridge and Chudleigh.

The one-two-three at the top remains Ivybridge (121pts), Lewdown (120) and Chudleigh (101), althouth Tavistock’s comprehensive stuffing of Thorverton means they are only a point behind Chudleigh in fourth.

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