Devon Cricket Board - B Division - Jeewan breaks bowling record

IVYBRIDGE v STOKE GABRIEL
IVYBRIDGE’S Jeewan deSilva rewrote the record books with a nine-wicket demolition job on Stoke Gabriel.
Stoke, chasing Ivybridge’s 151 for nine, collapsed to 54 all out as the Sri Lankan spinner wheeled away.
All nine wickets taken by deSilva were bowled. There were no hat-tricks, although he finished on a flourish with three wickets in five balls.
One wicket eluded de Silva – Seb Ansley’s – but he literally had a hand in it by taking the catch off Jamie Bullock’s bowling to send the Devon U17 youngster back.
His complete figures were 8.5 overs, five maidens, six runs, nine wickets. The previous record for the division of nine for 18 set by Jack Neville against Exeter James in 1991.
“Jeewan’s bowled really well all season without a lot of luck but he made up for it against Stoke,” said Ivybridge captain Gareth Andrews.
“To take nine for six at any level is quite an achievement. He was helped by some excellent bowling at the other end by Harry Solomon who gave them nothing and probably deserved a couple of wickets. But it was Jee’s day.”
It certainly was Jeewan’s day as he top scored with 33 for Ivybridge.
Only Chris Horwood (15) and Paul Abraham (16) made significant contributions apart from de Silva on a day when ball ruled bat.
Victory leaves Ivybridge third in the table, eight points behind Bideford in second and well placed to climb higher.
“We are very happy with our position at the moment, especially as we haven't been at our best this season,” said Andrews.
“This week’s game at Shrobrooke will be big test for us they are a good side who are improving.”
BIDEFORD v PLYMSTOCK
PLYMSTOCK’S slide down the B Division table continued with a 58-run reversal at Bideford, which leaves them third from bottom.
Plymstock do have a 29-point safety cushion between them and Barnstaple in te second drop spot, but with 22 points for a win they could disappear quite quickly.
Paul Heard and Josh King were the leading run scorers for Bideford with 49 and 48 respectively in a total of 208 for nine.
A solid middle-order effort saw King put on 37 with Chris Luxton and 25 ith Heard, who added 32 with Matt Shepherd and 44 with Fred King.
Pick of the bowlers with three for 22 was Dean Fulco, Ian Whalley had three more for 38.
Plymstock skipper James Nichols thought 209 to win was a gettable target, which made losing harder to take.
A Richards (36), Fulco (27) and Nichols (37) all got on but lacked support while they were there.
Once Nichols was seventh out at 128 the tail withered with the last four wickets going for just 22 runs as Matt Stewart (4-31) and James Ford (2-28) polished them off.
Nichols wasn’t happy with the manner of defeat as he can see an unwanted pattern developing.
“We came up against a well-drilled side and once again our batting was awful,” said Nichols..
“To be bowled out for 150 at Bideford is criminal.
“I thought our bowlers had done a good job to keep it to 208.
“One decent partnership early on would have got us a lot closer but we seem to make the same mistakes over and over, losing wickets in clusters and playing some ridiculous shots in the process.”
Bideford captain James Ford knew where to lay the credit for victory.
“After a shaky start, Paul Heard and Josh King, along with the lower order, got us to a respectable score,” he said.
“All the bowlers again gave nothing away, left-armer Martin Stewart’s hostile spell giving him four wickets.”
TAVISTOCK v BRAUNTON
TAVISTOCK are sitting on a 30-point lead at the top of the B Division after cruising to a seven-wicket win over visiting Braunton.
Braunton were all out for 152 – which was more than they looked liked making after slumping to 50 for six.
Callum Mitchell (46) and Artwell Nyambanje (26) put on 70 for the seventh wicket to prevent a total collapse.
The wickets were shared around three apiece for Lee Baker, Jamie Stephens and Thoko Peter.
A 60-run opening stand between Aaron Churchill (25) and Ian Gray (26) was topped up by 2 from Dave Manning as Tavvy set off in pursuit.
Skipper Shaun Daymond (40no) and Shaun Cleeve (23no) took Tavvy the rest of the way there.
Promotion is Tavvy’s aim this season, but feet are being kept firmly on the ground.
“Braunton had a few missing from the side that beat Ivybridge, but it was still a possible banana skin and one I was happy to avoid,” said Daymond.
“The target on our ground was below par and I knew if we got a half decent start we would be fine.
“We are in a good position – 30 points up on Bideford and 40 on Ivybridge – but there are a lot of decent teams to play, starting with Plymstock this Saturday.”
Braunton had problems getting a side together, something acting captain Jon Baglow hopes to avoid against Barnstaple this Saturday.
“We had to re-shuffle the top order due to availability, so to be 35 for five was a struggle,” said Baglow.
“Callum Mitchell, Artwell and Dan Brailely batted well to get us to 152 and at least be competitive.
“We didn't really deserve much more out of the game. Hopefully availabilities will be better for the derby next week.”
AXMINSTER v SHOBROOKE PARK
SHOBROOKE Park are up to fourth in the B Division after handing out a 147-run hiding to Axminster.
Nick Prell top scored with 45 for Shobrooke who finished on 226 all out.
After Dan Pyle (37) and Chris Simpson (33) got early runs, Prell and Andy Codling (42) helped hoist 100 in the last 10 overs as Axminster’s bowlers wilted once Gary Larcombe (2-13) and Matt Pyle (2-26) were bowled out.
Axminster got to 28 for one in reply before the pace of Prell and Alvin Pollard started to shake them up.
The real damage was done by Ben Trenaman with four for 11 before skipper Phil Anning (2-8) finished off the stragglers as Axminster were bowled out for 79.
Shobroke are only 12 points behind second-placed Bideford in what is starting to look like a contest for runners-up spot behind runaway leaders Tavistock.
Skipper Anning is cagey on promotion talk, but can see his side being in the mix.
“Things are starting to come together and if our batting continues to improve we will be in the top half of the league come the end of the season,” said Anning.
Anning said after Pyle went the batters did well on a turning wicket to set a challenging total
“It was great to get 226 on the board for our bowlers, then to have the freedom to bowl how they wanted.
Alvin Pollard bowled with great aggression and Nick Prell, Pete Turner and myself bowled with great control.
“Ben Trenaman should get special praise. He was once dropped by a former captain when playing at Axminster after being told his bowling did not suit their wicket.
“He bowled beautifully and was rewarded with four wickets.”
Shobrooke entertain Ivybridge this Saturday.
BARNSTAPLE v THORVERTON
THORVERTON need a bounce-back win against Axminster this Saturday after slipping up by 20 runs away to lowly Barnstaple & Pilton.
A third-wicket stand of 110 between Tom Popham (58) and George McEndoo (52) helped B&P muster 176 for seven in their 45 overs.
Pick of the bowlers for Thors with two for 26 was Dan Beatty.
The chase was in interesting affair with Thors 95 for six and on the back foot after Steve Moore (5-25) and Jack Popham (2-44) got among them.
A stand of 48 between Beatty (52) and Jake Choules (19) made it interesting but once Beatty went it as downhill all the way to 156 all out.
Thors slipped below Shobrooke into fifth spot and now trail Bideford by eight points.