Devon Cricket Board - Ipplepen carpeted by Axminster

Ipplepen carpeted by Axminster

IPPLEPEN lost their share of top spot in the B Division when they were hammered by nine-wickets at lowly Axminster.
At first glance it looks like an upset, but the nature of the B Division this season makes it anything but.
Ipplepen had lost their previous two outings and were not exactly on top form.
And with only 30 points between second top and second bottom in the table, there isn’t a lot between anyone this year.
Pens’ batting let them down badly once wicket started to tumble.
Joe Abbot and Tom Dyer (22) made a 34-run start – which morphed to 40 for five after a going over from Matt Pile (4-41).
There was a brief recovery to 60 for six – Dave Harris and Steve Bowden hanging around – the then last five wickets went for six runs.
There were three wickets for David Murnane and two for Sam Farrow.
“Once they got to six or seven down it seemed they lost the will to go on,” said Axminster captain Paul Miller.
Pile was out for 19 knocking off the runs, but Murnane batted through to a speedy conclusion.
Murnane taking 12 in an over from the usually miserly Paul Thomas definitely moved things along.
“We got a hiding,” said pens skipper Keith Wakeham.
“Never in the game from 34 for one on an unpredictable pitch.
“They bowled straighter and we couldn't grind out ten overs to stop the rot.
“They attacked our bowling from the start and we couldn't hit the length to cause them problems.
“It's the first time we've been outplayed in this higher division, but we'll be back.
“It's a tough division as the results on Saturday showed.
“No one stands out as the best or worst team so it will be a tough second half for everyone.”

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