Devon Cricket Board - B Division - Chudleigh need a favour now

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B DIVISION

CHUDLEIGH skipper Jon Martin has admitted it will need a few favours from now on for the Kate Brook side to get promoted after they lost by six wickets at Tavistock.

Tavistock held Chudleigh to 133 for five in a 36-over game, which Tavvy chalked off with five balls of a rain affected game to go.

Chudleigh dropped back to third place with nine points to make up on promotion rivals South Devon, who had the best of a drawn game with Clyst St George. Leaders Plymstock marched on by beating Dartington & Totnes.

Said Martin: “Like most of our losses this year, we lost a crucial toss on a wet pitch and didn't score enough runs then couldn't defend it.

“We need to win our remaining games, starting at Clyst this Saturday, and with Plymstock and South Devon playing each other, I am hoping one of them can do us a favour.

“I don't like saying it, but if to stand a chance of getting promoted we need one of those two to slip up.”

Dan LeMarquand made 43 and Matt Heather 23 in Chudleigh’s best stand of 59.

Sean Daymond (34) and Aaron Churchill (28) set up victory for Tavvy, which Rhys Davies (27) completed.

South Devon had the best of it against Clyst St George, but were by no means convincing.

Tom Carter hit 65 – he and Mark Hulse (19) opened up with 47 – and with James Hart (35no) and Peter Vorster (26) they got to 192 for six.

There were two wickets each for Tim Downer (2-26) and Chris Cook (2-62).

Clyst were in early trouble at 50 for four – Matt Coult (2-35) bagging a brace – then blocked for a draw.

Chris Ferro (46) and Tim Read (37no) put on 70 for the fifth wicket as Clyst crept to 147 for six.

Chagford held on for a draw at Thorverton, where they really needed a win to gain ground on Dartington in the scrap to get out of the bottom two before it is too late.

Paul Fielder cracked 75 – he and skipper Ally Fury (49) put on 64 for the first wicket – and with Will Denford making 46 not out off 20 balls Thors made 233 for seven.

Blake Charlton (4-54) ripped in to Chagford as they dipped to 116 for seven with 25 overs to go.

Thors were unable to finish what they had started though as Gary Sizmur (53no) and Neil Rowlands (28) batted out 24 of the 25 overs to get Chagford up to 191 for eight innings closed.

Chagford need 15 points to get ahead of Dartington and out of the bottom two in the three games remaining.

Axminster skipper Paul Miller hit an unbeaten century to help lead his side to a winning draw over Barnstaple & Pilton at Cloakham Lawn.

Miller was unbeaten on 103 at the close of the home innings after putting on 175 for the unbroken third wicket with Joel Seward (65no).

The ton, which included 12 four and a six to reach it off the penultimate ball, was the skipper’s highest contribution of the campaign. Earlier runs had come from Daniel Murnane (40) and Gary Larcombe (23).

Steve Moore’s one for 52 off 13 was about as good as the bowling got.

Barum got a good start, but, the consistent line and length of Gary Larcombe saw him pick up five more wickets – three caught and bowled - to move to 29 for the season, the reply closing on 218-8.

Andy Barton (80) and Lawrence May (21) made steady inroads into the target, but when Barton went ten overs out at 173 for six that was the end of the chase.

The winning draw takes Axminster 17 points clear of the relegation places and they travel to second bottom Chagford on Saturday for what could be a season-defining encounter.

“The 15 points we banked set’s up well for the last three games,” said Miller.

“Clearly it would be handy to win at Chagford to end any relegation worries but it is a case of, we cannot afford to lose the game there.”

Dartington & Totnes are under pressure to get a result away to Thorverton on Saturday after going down by six wickets to promotion-chasing Plymstock.

With three games to go D&T are 14 points clear of the drop zone with 60 up for grabs.

Chagford are the team immediately below D&T – and two sides meet on the last day of the season in what could be a survival decider.

D&T play Thorverton and Tavistock between now and the last day and really need 30 points across the matches to take the pressure off.

Dartington – 16 for two after early problems – reached 55 for three with Kyle Blanchard and Ryan Stevenson (48) stopping the rot.

A double strike by George Barnicott (3-35) slowed the recovery and it needed 44 not out from Kalon Veale to get D&T up to 156 for eight.

Dom Wood moved to 797 league runs for the season with 43, and Matt Smith hit 27, as Plymstock got to 90 for one in reply.

Three wickets went for no run at all as Harry Baxendale (2-50) and Jonno Colegate (2-30) gave D&T some hope.

Dave Orchard (37no) and Rory Coultham (25no) killed off D&T once and for all by knocking off the rest unaided.