Devon Cricket Board - C Division: Pens snatch Bideford's record

BIDEFORD’S unbeaten record in the C Division went for a Burton when Ipplepen defeated them by 39 runs at Westward Ho!

Pens made 246 for seven in their 45 overs – Joe Abbott hitting a top score of 54 to speed them on their way.

Bideford were struggling to keep up at 88 for five then 100 for six in reply and despite Alex Crisp’s battling 89 fell short at 207 all out.

Bideford still top the table by 31 points from Axminster, who oblige by losing to lowly Clyst St George.

Pens remain third in the table, but are only a point behind Axminster now as the promotion race heats up.

Ipplepen’s total was constructed around two key stands of 83 for the second wicket and 77 for the firth.

Jack Lewis (46) and Tom Dyer (30) put on 83 then Sam Wakeham (46) joined Abbott to make 77.

Matt Stewart (2-29) bowled with control while James Ford (3-53) took wickets at the end.

Abbott went on to turn in Man of the Match performance as he took three wickets, including the prized scalp of Bideford skipper Ford in the third over.

Jordi Gilmour hung around to make 52 as the rest of the top order fled. After Paul Thomas (2-28), Jake Peach (3-56) and Abbot had finished with Bideford, the home side were out of it at 103 for eight, or so it seemed.

A stand of 90 for the ninth wicket between Crisp and Stewart (22 fueled hopes of an unlikely comeback, but Peach snared Stewart and Wakeham cleared up Crisp in the penultimate over.

OTTERY St Mary skipper Jody Clements believes his team are heading for the top half of the table after beating promotion hopefuls Axminster by 40 runs.

It’s Kingsbridge at home for Ottery this Saturday – another team with aspirations of B Division cricket.

And the week after brings a tricky trip to Ipplepen, who are third in the table behind Axminster and Bideford.

Clements said Ottey have shown their mettle in recent games and are a different side to the one that struggled close to the bottom earlier in the season.

“It was a key 20 points achieved, especially in middle of a tough run of games,” said Clements.

“With four wins from last six games, we are enjoying our cricket.

“I am expecting another tough match this weekend, but looking forward to it.”

Jack Pritchard led the way against Axminster with a century in a total of 289 for six.

Pritchard shared stands of 86 with Lewis Townsend (50no) and 69 with Clements (45no).

Axminster gave it their best shot with Paul Miller (55) and Joel Seward (45) setting the tone with a stand of 70 for the third.

Brett Garner (36) and Matt Pile (31) kept going for it, but Ottery got on top through Joe Birch (5-40) and Dave Richardson (2-36) to slow them down.

“We bowled well, especially Joe Birch and Dave Richardson, with economical, wicket-taking spells at crucial stages,” said Clements.

CLYST St George desperately need a win against fellow strugglers Dartington & Totnes on the Bohea Field this Saturday to start getting away from the wrong end of the table.

Clyst gave Kingsbridge a scare last time out before going down by 10 runs at the Butts chasing 247 to win.

Yelverton moved off the bottom and past Clyst on the strength of a five-wicket win over hit-and-miss Chagford.

Clyst are 10 points adrift at the bottom and the team they have to get ahead of is Dartington & Totnes, which makes the game so significant.

Angus Watson hit a top score of 51 for Kings in their tally of 246 for nine, sharing a stand of 79 with Ashley Treeby after James Fletcher (26) and James Westlake (26) got a start.

James Ellis (23) and James Rosewarne – they really do have all those Jameses in the side – added 41 for the ninth, which proved crucial.

Chris Ferro and Steve Bourke had two wickets each while Dan Takle went one better but for 83 runs.

Ferro (84) and Chris Cook (41) got Clyst handily placed with a stand of 107 that helped them reach 212 for four with six overs to go

Ferro’s dismissal to a run out was pivotal and Kings got the brake on just in time to limit Clyst to 236 for eight. Steve May made 37.

CHAGFORD, who will be at home to Ipplepen this weekend, are 49 points off second place after suffering a five-wicket defeat at Yelverton.

Divan Marias made a century and Matt Bowes 34 in Chagford’s total of 244 for seven.

Pick of the home bowlers were Matt Tamsett (3-48) and Geoff Brain (2-40).

Yelverton’s big hitter Steve Luffman was due a score and Chagford were the ones on the receiving end.

Luffman made 91 not out and with Richard West (45no) at the other end notched 55 unbroken to win the game with seven overs to go.

DARTINGTON slipped a place closer to the C Division danger area when they lost by five wickets to Plymouth CS&R.

Civil were one place below D&T, but moved ahead of them by a point after wrapping-up a quickfire win.

James Dent (3-14) and Rob Walker (3-14) put the skids under D&T, who were all out for 93. No one bettered the extras tally of 26.

Ben Wilkinson (41) led Civil home, although James Howrihane (3-13) and Gybertus Loots (2-34) ensured it was no cakewalk.