Devon Cricket Board - D Division - Seaton one win from promotion

D Division - Seaton one win from promotion

SHALDON can clinch a second successive promotion if they win at Honiton this Saturday.

Craig Greenwood’s side stayed ahead of Seaton in the three-way race to finish second behind champions Clyst Hydon with a seven-wicket win over Filleigh last time out.

Seaton are just three points behind in third place after they overturned Honiton by 25 runs at Court Lane.

And Ashburton are a further seven points back in fourth place after their 77-run triumph over Uplyme.

Seaton are away to Countess Wear in their last match while Ashburton go to Feniton.

Mark Prideaux top scored on 53 for Filleigh, coming in at 75 for four and batting through until the fall of the last wicket.

Carl Woolnough bagged a couple of wickets with the new ball, but it was spell of four for 23 from nine overs by Mark Couch that really slowed Filleigh to 178 all out.

Shaldon went off in hot pursuit, led by opener Seamus McKenna on his way to a third league ton of the season.

McKenna put on 45 with Todd Ballman (6) for openers, 128 with Richard Boss (23) and the last few bits and pieces with Mark Couch and Karl Blackburn.

McKenna slammed 19 fours and five sixes from just 98 balls needed to reach 130.

Ashburton gambled on an early declaration against Uplyme and it paid off as they went on to win and claimed two additional bonus points.

Ashes totalled 244 for five declared with Kevin Nicholls (78no) and Daman Singh (50) the main contributors. They put on 123 for the third wicket, raising the running total to 194.

Forty-eight extras helped the Ashburton cause.

Singh then stared with the ball as Uplyme were bowled out for 167. He took four for 34 and there were two wickets apiece for Ashley Harvey and Dom Durman.

There were runs for Alex Taylor (40), Mark Brimacombe (42) and Steve Batey (32).

Elsewhere in the D Division, Clinton Lewis hammered an unbeaten 109 for Clyst Hydon (254-3) as they beat Countess Wear (133) by 122 runs.

Pete Matravers made an unbeaten 71 to help 10-man Honiton win by two wickets against Halberton in the last over with their final pair of batters at the crease.

Kev Kelly provided the individual all-round performance of the game with a four wicket haul as the Mid Devon side were bowled out for 215 and the Kelly struck 34 as Honiton edged home.

Kelly was supported by brother Ian in the bowling attack, the latter taking 2-31.

The successful run chase was led by Matravers while Kev Thompson (38) and Kieran Conway (20) chipped in to see Honiton safely home.

Joe Berry took five for 42 as Seaton dismissed Feniton for 179 in reply to their own 204 all out, Mark Wheeler (47) and Steve Pritchard (40) the prime run makers.

There was one big bright spot about another disappointing outcome for Feniton with teenager Josh Cann striking another fluent knock, this one of 40.

Seaton head into the final day of the season on Saturday having to get three more points from their game at second bottom Countess Wear then Shaldon get from their visit to a Honiton side who secure their D Division place last weekend.

There’s little doubt that as much as Seaton will be looking to do the business at Countess Wear, there will no doubt be a hot line between them and Mountbatten Park where they will hope for a favour from Honiton.

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