Devon Cricket Board - C Division: Cockington let first win get away

C Division: Cockington let first win get away

C DIVISION

ASHBURTON will welcome Hatherleigh to Varwell Field this Saturday far more optimistic about their chances of dodging the drop after a double-whammy.

Ashes did themselves the power of good by beating Ivybridge by six-wickets in the derby clash down the road at Filham.

More good news arrived via league bosses, who have deducted Seaton five points for fielding an unregistered player.

Second-bottom Seaton now trail Ashes by 17 points with for games to go. As the two sides meet on the last day of the season, there could be a few fireworks left yet though.

Ashes inserted Ivybridge who were soon in trouble against Tom Durman (4-14) and Marcus West (3-27).

Ivybridge’s skipper Gareth Andrews (55) almost batted the entire innings but his colleagues at the other end could only muster 20 between them.

Ashley Harvey (3-10) finally bowled Andrews as Ivybridge were all out for only 97 with nine overs left.

Ashes made no mistake in finishing the job.

Openers Kevin Nicholls (13) and in-form Tom Durman (62) almost did the job putting on 81 for the first wicket.

There was then a bit of a wobble as Jeewan De Silva (3-210 spun out Nicholls, Tony Lacey (6) and Martin Causey for a duck.

The final runs were seen off by Ashley Berry (7no) and skipper Chris Pascoe (0no).

COCKINGTON’S relegation from the C Division will be a mathematical certainty unless they beat Bideford this Saturday after they let a winning position get away from them at Stoke Gabriel.

Cockington were at virtual full strength for the first time this season with Chris, Peter and Sean Needham all home on leave from the armed forces to give them a lift.

Chris needham took five for 43 and Will Wyatt three for three as Stoke were dismissed for 149.

Simon Phillips made 59 and there were 32 wides chucked down, which helped Stoke recover from 91 for six.

It looked like plain sailing for previously winless Cockington as they got to 118 for five wit Chris Nedham (42) and Peter Needham (54) doing most of the work.

Then it all went wrong for Cockington and right for Stoke.

Once the Needhams went the tail crumbled. The last for batters failed to score a run between them as Cockington were bowled out for 138,

Kingsbridge slumped to a seven-wicket defeat against third-placed Hatherleigh on a day when little went right for them.

Mark Lake (4-20) and Nick Rogers (3-30) reduced Kings to 64 for nine and only a battling knock of 24 from last man Neil Peach staved off total embarrassment.

Hatherleigh only needed 23 overs to knock off the runs. Rob Chapman made 24 and Hugh Romans 29. Bhanu deSilva took all three wickets to fall.

It doesn’t get any easier for Kingsbridge as they are at home to leaders Lewdown on Saturday.

CLYST Hydon won by seven wickets at Seaton, where the rule book did them a favour in a rain-affected game.

Seaton had moved smoothly to 97-4 with 16 overs remaining and looking on target for a 200-plus total.

Then the heavens opened and left the players for the next two hours watching TV in the pavilion.

Then, when the game resumed, the rule book said Seaton could have only four further overs to compete their innings.

Those 24 deliveries realised a further 30 runs, Seaton closing on 127-5 with the main contributions coming from John Waterhouse (44), Mark Bray (28no) and Nick Beedell (31).

However, that total was never going to trouble a promotion chasing Clyst Hydon side that then had plenty of time to pace their successful run chase. Graham Trude (73no) went in a 11 for two and was still there at the end.

Clyst aren’t going to catch runaway leaders Lewdown now, but are looking good for second place thanks to a 20-point lead over Hatherleigh in third.

As for Seaton, they are 18 points away from safety with 80 to play for.

“We live to fight another day though and the battle to beat the drop goes on,” said skipper Ben Morgan.

“One thing’s for sure, we’ll give it all we have got over the last four games to try and keep the side in the C Division.”

BIDEFORD came unstuck by five wickets when they ran into table-topping Lewdown.

Mike Young – dropped on nought – went on to make a top score of 62 in Bidford’s 169 all out.

Will Barrett made 50 in a stand of103 for the third wicket with Young, which accounted for most of the Bideford runs.

There were three wickets each for Rob Mutch and Mark Jordan.

Lewdown wobbled at first – they were 22 for two – but a stand of 90 between Mutch (76) and Dave Ball (42() broke the back of the chase.

Karl Weeks (14no) and Jordan (16no) wrapped up win number 13 for Lewdown who need just four points against Kingsbridge this Saturday to be sure of promotion.

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