Devon Cricket Board - F Division - Hutchings passes 700 mark

F Division - Hutchings passes 700 mark

CHARDSTOCK claimed yet another E Division victory and skipper Rob Hutchings took his season’s run count past 700 as his team defeated Exeter Civil Service by eight wickets.

The Exeter-based side batted first and closed on 232-8.

James Hayden, on at first change, bowled superbly with consistent line and length and claimed a brace of wickets.

There were also two wickets for Jack Larcombe.

From 75-2 the run chase was untroubled as the skipper struck an unbeaten 94 and young Larcombe completed a fine all-round contribution with an unbeaten 54 as the pair saw their side to a comfortable victory.

Hutchings said: “It would have been nice to notch another ton, but we ran out of runs to score!

“The team continue to play cricket with a smile on their faces and, whilst a top two finish looks beyond us now, we‘ll continue to look to win every game and if there’s a slip above us then we’ll be in a good position to take advantage.

“However, if it’s not to be then so be it, the season is going along nicely and we are all enjoying our cricket.”

KINGSKERSWELL’S charge towards the F Division title continued unabated with their 12th consecutive victory.

They are now the only club in the Devon Cricket League to have won all 12 games this season.

The victims this week were visiting Buckland Monochorum who were initially put to the sword by the Kerswell batters who amassed 333 for 5 off their allotted overs.

A century opening stand between Steve Waters (35) and Mike Etherington (52) got the Kerswell innings off to the perfect start.

After contributions from Erik Gregersen (16) and Mat Stevens (26), there then followed an amazing firework display with Pieter Douglas (102 no) and Paul Harding (59) adding 167 off the last 13 overs.

Douglas hammered seven sixes and eight fours in his 40-ball century and Harding hit four sixes and three fours in his 59.

Neither player normally gets a chance to have a bat and took the opportunity they had in emphatic style.

There was always going to be too much for Buckland to do to get anywhere near the Kerswell total but finding themselves seven for two in the first four overs clearly didn’t help.

Douglas continued with his great day by clean bowling the top four Buckland batters and finished with figures of six for 16 with Harding helping to clean up the tail with 3 for 16.

The 20 points gained by Kerswell moves them 42 points clear at the top of the league but promotion is not yet a certainty as Kerswell still have to play third-placed Cullompton twice before the end of the season.

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