Devon Cricket Board - C Division - Bideford need two points to go up

BIDEFORD are just about there in the C Division promotion race after a nail-bitting three-run win over Axminster.

Axminster have been hard on Bideford’s heels at the top of the table all season and the game was billed as the title decider.

Bideford are now 34 points clear of Axminster at the top and 65 in front of third-placed Ipplepen with 66 to play for.

Pens may catch Axminster on the run in – the two sides play this weekend – but there isn’t much relegation worriers Yelverton can do to stop Bideford getting the point they need to be sure of top spot.

Skipper James Ford top scored for Bideford with 76 in their tally of 202 for nine.

Aussie run machine Jordi Gilmour was out first ball to Rob Prior (2-33) but Al Savage (22) and Matt Shepherd (28) topped up the total.

Joel Seward (3-430 had the best figures for the Axminster bowlers.

Axminster went off in hot pursuit – Gary Larcombe (32) and Seward (31) helping them to 99 for two with 17 overs to go.

Man of the match Ford (4-38) assisted by Josh King (2-47) took wickets at important times for Bideford.

Despite Matt Pile’s 24 and Steve Wakeley’s 20 off 17 balls at the end, Axminster finished short on 199 for nine.

CLYST St George skipper James Meredith can see his side rising phoenix-like from the C Division relegation zone before it’s too late.

The Saints beat Ottery St Mary by 38 runs last time out to register their third win in the last four starts.

They head into Saturday’s meeting with Chagford off the bottom at last having moved ahead of Yelverton.

Clyst still have 14 points to go to make up on Plymouth CS&R reach safety – which could make the last-day meeting between the two interesting.

But as things stand right now Meredith is confident of avoiding the fiery furnace that is the D Division.

“Finally we've started winning the tight games,” said Meredith.

“We are keeping faith that we will survive on the last day as one escaping through flames.”

Chris Ferro’s 38 in a stand of 49 for the sixth wicket with Chris Cook (24) got Clyst going after they had been 88 for five. James McGregor (23no) got a few at the end.

Sam Tennant made a dogged 65 for Ottery, but he lacked support as Ferro (3-19), Cook (2-26) and Mike Johnson (2-26) worked through the order.

Ottery were all out for 138 with skipper Jody Clements less than impressed.

“We made poor batting decisions which was infuriating for the bowlers who did such a good job setting the game up for us,” said Clements.

CHAGFORD collapsed in a heap against Plymouth CS&R before nosediving to a seven-wicket defeat.

Duncan Manners-Chapman (25) and David Penberthy (21) had the only scores of note as Chagford staggered to 129 all out, their last four wickets falling for just two runs.

Rob Walker (4-25) was the destroyer in chief.

Rain meant a reduced target for Civil of 107, which they got with the minimum of fuss thanks to Walker (28no), Ben Wilkinson (31) and Dan Windsor (27).

Chagford (168pts) play improving Clyst St George (147) this Saturday desperate for a win to pull away from the drop zone once and for all.

THERE were few happy returns for birthday boy Rachit Lakhmani despite a maiden league century in the derby clash with Dartington & Totnes.

Lakhmani, who has proved a popular figure with friend and foe alike since coming over from India early in the season, made 106 on his 22nd birthday in Pens’ total of 200 for nine.

There were handy contributions from Dave Harris (23) and Jack Lewis (22).

Kalon Veale (3-38) took the bowling honours for D&T ahead of Will Gornall (2-20) and Ryan Stevenson (2-20).

When D&T were 16 for four in reply – Joe Abbott (4-35) doing the damange - a Pens’ win looked odds on. No one had told Stevenson.

Stevenson helped himself to a match-turning 83 to get D&T back in the hunt.

The job wasn’t done though and it needed heads-down knocks from James Howrihane (33) and Will Gornall (32no) to clinch victory with four overs to go.

D&T, now 19 points clear of the second drop spot, take on Ottery at Foxhole this Saturday looking for the one more win which will banish their relegation fears once and for all.

Pens had been chasing the second promotion slot behind champs elect Bideford. If Keith Wakeham’s side don’t beat second-placed Axminster this Satuday it’s going to be all over.

Kingsbridge are destined for a top-four finish in the C Division following a 20-run win over Yelveton.

Kings head into Saturday’s meeting with Plymouth CS&R 29 points of Ottery in fifth place on the strength of their win at Langton Park.

Angus Watson top scored with 60 and Will Matthewman made 34 in Kings’ total of 173 for five.

Bhanu DeSilva (5-22) spun through the Yelverton lower order as the Moorlanders dipped to 153 all out.

CHAGFORD collapsed in a heap against Plymouth CS&R before nosediving to a seven-wicket defeat.

Duncan Manners-Chapman (25) and David Penberthy (21) had the only scores of note as Chagford staggered to 129 all out, their last four wickets falling for just two runs.

Rob Walker (4-25) was the destroyer in chief.

Rain meant a reduced target for Civil of 107, which they got with the minimum of fuss thanks to Walker (28no), Ben Wilkinson (31) and Dan Windsor (27).

Chagford (168pts) play improving Clyst St George (147) this Saturday desperate for a win to pull away from the drop zone once and for all.