Devon Cricket Board - Barton almost out of danger after beating Lewdown

Barton almost out of danger after beating Lewdown

BARTON need to keep an eye on the teams below them for a few more weeks just to be sure they are safe despite beating struggling Lewdown by 41 runs.
Bideford are resigned to relegation and Barton appear to have condemned Lewdown to going down with them.
Lewdown are 28 points away from safety – and 35 behind Barton after Saturday’s outcome.
One more win should do it for Barton, but in a season where they have only won five times they can’t assume it will fall into their laps.
Barton made 171 for nine at Lewdown – skipper Adam Parker leading the way with 88.
Barton were 12 for three when Parker went out to join Scott Bellamy (18) and their stand of 71 formed the backbone of the innings.
Parker, who batted for 10 minutes less than two hours, also posted 28 with Sean Semmens before he was seventh out at 134.
In the time left Aqueel Ahmed made 29 not out as the last three pairs put on a useful 37 runs.
Lewdown’s bowling was solid rather than spectacular. Johann Wessels (3-23) topped the returns.
Lewdown had Barton ratted at 72 for three after 14 overs – Harry Gering just out for 24 – and cruised to 112 for two with Wessels (61) in full flow.
Tom Drake trapped Wessells lbw and three balls later Billy Searle fell too.
From a promising 112 for two Lewdown plunged to 117 for eight as Drake (4-16) and man of the match Parker (3-21) tore through the middle order.
The tail enders delayed the inevitable briefly as Lewdown limped to 130 all out.
Skipper Geering will want to know how his side lost eight wickets for 18 runs as he contemplates how to get Lewdown out of trouble.

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