Devon Cricket Board - C Division West - season's best for Broad

BABBACOMBE stay on station nine points behind Dartington & Totnes after a resounding 82-run win over visiting Chagford.

South African Cameron Fryer top scored with 67 as Babbacombe advanced to 216 for eight in their 45 overs.

Babbacombe accelerated from 98 for three after 31 overs with Matt Inch (35) in particular getting on with it in support of Fryer.

Liam Gardner’s three for 36 was the best bowling for Chagford.

There were a few horror stories in the 44 extras given away – which won’t have amused skipper Del Lammonby. His nine overs cost a run each!

Chagford were all out for 134 in reply – Divan Marais (64) and James Fulner (33) scoring most of them.

Babbacombe skipper Steve Broad turned in figures of five for 18 – a season’s best.

There were two wickets each for Tim Goodwin and Andy Kingdon, who is having more luck with the ball than the bat this season.

Broad said he felt he had a competitive total, until Chagford reached 73 for none after 10 overs of their reply.

“Marais and Fulner had already hit Goodwin, Fryer and Bates out of the attack, so I had to try different options,” said Broad.

“Andy Kingdon made the breakthrough, clean bowling Fulner with score now on 94.

“We managed to keep Marais quite then for a couple of overs and I got him lbw with score on 99.

“I then took two more wickets with score on 110 and Andy got another also with score on 110 so the game tuned upside down in the space of eight overs.

“We took 10 wickets for 40 runs with Goodwin coming back to clean up the tail.

“It was one of the best turnarounds I can remember for quite a while – and against a very good side.

“A big game for us, another loss and we would have been well adrift but now were right back in the mix again.”

STOKE Gabriel missed a chance to get out of the bottom four when they suffered a 26-run defeat at Whithchurch.

Skipper Bill Barriball top scored with 44 and Ben Powell made 34 in a home total of 209 all out

Jack Tolley (3-37) pipped Seb Ansley (2-38) for leading wicket taker.

Stoke were all out in reply for 183 – Seb Ansley making 61.

After Sam Parker made 26 early on, Ansley went in at 54 for four and batted through to 167 for eight. Only when Ansley went could Whitchurch breath easily.

Whitchurch shared the wickets around with Rob Bone (3-28) booking the best figures.

Stoke are two places and four points clear of the drop zone going into the meeting with fellow strugglers Yelverton Bohemians this Saturday.

KINGSBRIDGE showed signs they are serious about climbing the table by holding on to beat fellow strugglers Yelverton by eight runs.

Kingsbridge are still in the bottom two, but have closed the gap between them and Yelverton immediately above them to a poing and are in sight of Stoke Gabriel (87pts) too.

And with skipper and leading bowler Bhanuka de Silva now back from a compassionate trip home to Sri Lanka following a death in the family, Kingsbridge are getting back to full strength.

James Westlake( 60) and Matt Peach (48) were the main run getters, putting on 109 for the first wicket in a total of 208 for nine.

Yelverton replied with 200 for nine – Rob Townsend making 51 – with James Rosewarne taking three wickets for Kings.

It’s back to the Butts this Saturday for Kingsbridge, who entertain promotion hunting Dartington & Totnes.

DARTINGTON & Totnes captain James Howrihane believes there is little room for error if his side are going to win automatic promotion this season.

Darts go into the South Hams derby against Kingsbridge this Saturday second in the table, 15 points behind leaders Bridestowe.

The return of regionalisation this season has meant some tweaks to the league format with one side from the East and West divisions going up by right – and the two runners-up playing-off for a third place.

To avoid the play-off game D&T have to finish top, which Howrihane says will be tough.

“Realistically, we can only afford to lose one more game,” said Howrihane.

“We have beaten all the other top-four sides – including Bridestowe – so we ought to be one of the challengers.

“For the second half of the season we should be stronger too with Kalon Veale back and Will Gornall playing again.

“There were one or two people worried about losing Ryan Stevenson and Bertie Loots to Torquay, but the effect has been to make everyone else find a few per cent extra.”

Dart were convincing 75-run winners over bottom side Ashburton last time out after posting 208 for seven.

A third-wicket stand of 107 between Jono Colgate (62) and Chris Cook (67) formed the mainstay of the total. Veale (37) chipped in.

Dom Durman with five for 31 shone with the ball for Ashburton.

Ashburton were 99 for three in reply – Kev Nicholls (33) and Ashley Berry (31) the run getters – then fell apart.

Cook tied them down at one end and Ben van Nierkirk (5-24) cashed in at the other.

With Harry Baxendale taking two for 24 as well, Ashes were all out for 133.

The only way is up now for Ashburton, who entertain Babbacombe this Saturday.

The good news for the Ashes is that former skipper Chris Pascoe found some form in the 2nd XI after a run of low scores by taking 186 off Dartington & Totnes 2nd XI.

It doesn’t get much easier for Ashburton as they play promotion-chasing Babbacombe this Saturday.

Bridestowe got back to winning ways in a high scoring game at Roborough.

Civil batted first and got off to a good start through Sanders (23) and Brian Gaylard (71).

Bridestowe eventually got the breakthrough through Lavis (1-26) who bowled a very accurate and economical spell.

Rob then joined his brother at the crease, and the pair put on 140 through a combination of solid defence and some big shots over the top.

Sizmur eventually (4-58) picked up Brian LBW for 71 and soon had Rob caught for a powerful 84.

The last few overs brought a flurry of boundaries and wickets, with Sam Ewen (2-16) bowling well at the death.

The Civil innings finished on 259-7, which looked to be a very competitive score.

Openers Tom Fogerty and Gary Sizmur made the total seem less imposing, as they put on 147 for the first wicket.

Both batsmen hit plenty of boundaries, with Tom pulling a short ball from Sharp on to the factory.

Gary was eventually caught off Civil captain Windsor (2-33) for an important 55.

Tom continued to push the score along, and looked to be heading for another century before he holed out for 94.

Sam Ewen hit a rapid 42, including three sixes, before Phil Hatton (24) finished things off with three boundaries in an over.

Bridestowe got home with 4 wickets, and 2.3 overs to spare, to extend their lead at the top of C (West).