Devon Cricket Board - E Division: Nothng new says Babbacombe skip

WHIMPLE have hit top spot in the E Division after a rain hit meeting with promotion rivals Whitchurch on Saturday.
The weather arguably came to Whitchurch’s rescue for they were in all sorts of bother, six wickets down with just 40 runs on the board, facing the Whimple total of 246-6 when the rain finally forced the teams off for the last time.

Earlier Henry Gordon-Lennox top scored with a splendid 66 and there were knocks of 35 from both Richard Brown and Matt Brown.

After tea the second innings began in very light drizzle and home bowler Chris Palfrey made the most of the conditions to cause the Whitchurch batsmen all sorts of problems.

He claimed four wickets for 23 runs when the visitors were put out of their misery and headed for the dry pavilion to lick their wounds having been outplayed in all departments by the home side.

Whimple skipper Ben Silk said: “We were ruthless and dominated them from the opening exchanges. They seemed to look to defend from the third over to try and stop the flow of runs, but I was very happy with the 246 at tea.

"I do think we are hard done by coming out of a game we have dominated and yet only get four more points than them (Whitchurch), but that’s the rules.”

Whimple now sit four points clear of Whitchurch who had beaten previous leaders Babbacombe the week before.

It is now a three-team race for the title and the second promotion berth.

With five games to go Whimple appear to have hit top spot at the perfect time.

Silk says: “It’s great to be top now and rather than regard that as an albatross round our necks we are happy to have the tag. It gives us a great chance of seeing the season through to a successful end”.

On Saturday it’s the in-form Topsham St James at home.

Silk says: “It’ll be tough, but we have worked hard to get top spot and want to keep hold of it.”

BABBACOMBE need a win at Kentisbeare this Saturday to avoid slipping out of the E Division promotion race.

The long-time leaders now find themselves joint second after they were rained off at 49 for five away to Yarcombe last Saturday.

Whimple did enough before rain intervened against Whitchurch to get ahead of Babbacombe, while Whitchurch were able to draw level with the Walls Hill side thanks to extra bonus points.

Babbacombe’s promotion, which looked like a foregone conclusion a month ago, is no longer a racing certainty according to skipper Steve Broad, although he has been saying that for a while.

“We didn't get much time to try and get any batting points so feel we were a bit unlucky to find out Whimple and Whitchurch played a large part of their game subsequently both gaining points on us,” said Broad.

“I am not sure it makes a great deal of difference because we needed to win the last five games to make certain of promotion - and that is still the case.

“We know what we need to do and oddly enough the other two skippers will be saying exactly the same.

One thing for sure is that it is impossible for all three teams to win all five games, what with us still to travel to Whimple.”

Upottery’s East Devon derby with Kilmington saw only a handful of overs before the rain washed play away.

Upottery were 54-2 when the weather took charge and ended play prematurely.

Typical of the way the Upottery season has gone so far, the abandonment left tem with just six points and so they slipped appoint further adrift of third bottom Bridestowe who were well beaten by Topsham St James, but picked up seven points for their efforts!

With five games to play Upottery sit a dozen points from safety.

Next up they entertain a Kenn side that will pitch up in Upottery sitting three places and 31 points better off.

Defeat on Saturday would leave the villagers in deep trouble, particularly with bottom side Yarcombe at third bottom Bridestowe.

An Upottery defeat and a win for Bridestowe may just leave the villagers with two much to do in their bid to avoid slipping down to the F Division, over what will then be the final four games of the season.

TOPSHAM St James hosted fierce rivals Bridestowe on Saturday with both occupying the two places directly above the drop zone.

A massive match for both clubs was always going to be affected by the weather with rain predicted throughout the afternoon.

With the start was delayed 20 minutes due to a heavy downpour, the match was reduced to 43 overs per side.

Topsham lost the toss and were put in the field, a decision that would ultimately come back to haunt Bridestowe.

Topsham got off to a solid start with Charlie Penn hitting a bullish 40 out of the first 50 runs.

When he and Brian Jeary both fell in quick succession, it was up to Nick Horne and Ed Baxter (who was promoted from number 10 last week) to consolidate the innings.

These two proved the perfect partners for one another, with Horne’s dynamic style combined with Baxter's ability to find the singles and keep the board ticking over.

The pair put on 139 for the 3rd wicket, Baxter hitting 41 and Horne 83 off 64 balls.

Nick Crew and Chris Horne continued to bat in a flamboyant manner hitting a 50 partnership in 4 overs.

Crew made 34 and Horne 41 with strike rates of over 200.

Joe Thomlinson finished off the innings hitting 38 not out off 14 balls, landing a couple maximums into the camp site set up next to the boundary.

130 runs came off the last 13 overs, proving wickets in hand are crucial. The Saints finished on 331 for 8.

Topsham knew they had to be efficient in the field and, with the rain getting heavier, 20 overs had to be completed in order to get a result.

The heavy rain dampened Bridestowe's spirits from the start as they found themselves 46-5.

Ross Treleaven opened up with 2-24 and Dan Armstrong backed him up with 1-28.

The change bowlers of Chris Horne, Joe McShane and Nick Crew all picked up 1 wicket each, as well as a direct hit run out for keeper Thomlinson.

Bridestrowe were never in with a shout as they agonisingly plodded to 161 for 7, with only one aim to ensure the Saints could not pick up maximum points.

The victory margin was 170 runs.

Topsham were the only team to complete a game in the E division and victory moved them up into the group of sides currently occupying mid-table.

Topsham 18 points, Bridestowe 7 points.

Next week Topsham travel to table-toppers Whimple.