Premier 2nd XI: Exeter revive title hopes

SECOND ELEVEN ROUND UP

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EXETER skipper Richard Nelsey hasn’t given up on winning the Premier 2nd XI title after his second-placed side won by 62 runs away to leaders Plymouth.

Adam Smith (42) and Marcus Hoddinett (35) were the main run scorers in a total of 171 for eight - Smith dominating a stand of 46 for the eighth wicket with Dave Richardson, whose contribution was just four.

Man of the match Smith then returned with the ball to take five for 32 as Plymouth were dismissed for 109 in reply. Tcehpo Legodi (3-24) and Pete Hensor (2-11) mopped up the stragglers.

Plymouth still top the table by 21 points from Exeter, which with three games left will take some making up.

Nelsey knows it is a challenge, but feels there is no pressure on his side now.

“If we win the league fantastic – if we are second then that’s a massive improvement on last year,” said Nelsey.

“Plymouth have North Devon and Sidmouth to play so the couple of wins they need are by no means certain.

“If we keep winning we have a chance. If not it has still been a great season.”

Harry Bennett was the man of the match for Cornwood in a hard-earned two-wicket win in the derby clash with Plympton/

Bennett had three for 33 as he and Mark Rose (3-27) bundled Plympton out for 119..

Bennett’s 27 and Ewan Grewal’s 26 helped Cornwood get home despite a thorough going over from Dan Vince (5-34).

It was Cornwood’s fourth win on the bounce and lifted them two places clear of the drop zone.

Jamie Wardrop clattered a century as Sidmouth raced to 297 for nine in the derby clash with Budleigh Salterton.

Wardop (101) was the last man out for Sidmouth, having shared in sizeable stands of 69 with Matt Hewer (27), 40 with Will Sobcjak (54) and 72 with Saj Patidar (35).

Ian Taylor toiled away to take three for 51 for Budleigh, who were hanging on at 231 for nine when the overs ran out.

Matt Plowman top scored for Budleigh, but is hard work came apart during the time they collapsed from 103 for three to 106 for seven.

Nathan Bright (37) and Lewis Baker (21) occupied most of the last 12 overs to see off Greg Chaplin (3-56) and Charlie Miles (2-52) to earn the draw.

PAIGNTON 2nd XI collapsed in a heap to give Bovey Tracey an easy win by 152 runs.

Simon Newton (76) and Theo Holland (24) got Bovey off to a 93-run start and with Andrew Longstreet (38) chipping in a total of 220 for nine was posted. Terry Farkins (3-62) was the bowling workhorse with colt Ollie Higgs (2-10) picking up a couple at the end.

Farkins then got Paignton’s reply going with 24, but at 65 for five it all went wrong. Brothers Jack (3-10)  and Sam Thomas (2-5) knocked over the lower order with the minimum of fuss as Paignton were dismissed for 68. James Mason (4-23) took the early wickets.

Paignton hit rock bottom in the wake of their defeat as Budleigh, Hatherleigh and Cornwood all went past them.

With only 11 points between the bottom four, Paignton can still save themselves, especially as Cornwood and Hatherleigh have each other to play and they both can’t win.

HATHERLEIGH took a step away from the Premier 2nd XI drop zone with a massive 105-run win over North Devon.

Mike Jones hit a top score of 44 – he and Rob Cockwill put on 40 at the top of the order – and with Andy Collier making 34 a total of 194 for nine was accrued. Tim Cook (5-69) and Rob Kelly (3-35) were North Devon’s bowling heroes.

North Devon, third in the table, were skittled out for 89 in reply by old stagers Ross Cherrington and Richard Tidball.

Cherrington took six for 24 and Tidball four for 23 as North Devon careered from 44 for one to 54 for three then to 66 for four, five and six on the way to 89 all out. Only Ollie Hunt (24) and Dan Pickard (27) made it into double figures.

Hatherleigh moved five points clear of the bottom two with three games to go, the big one being fellow strugglers Cornwood in two weeks time.

  


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