Devon Cricket Board - B Division round-up: Bullock man of moment with big last over

JAMIE Bullock was the man of the moment as Ivybridge snatched a dramatic last-over win against Shobrooke Park.
Jeewan deSilva top scored with 45 as the Bridgers made 170 all out – which didn’t look sufficient when Shobrooke were 111 for three with 15 overs to go.
Harry Soloman (2-44) and Ramesh Perera (4-20) got Ivybridge right back in the game as Shobrooke lost momentum on the chase.
After Solomon spun out Andy Steer with eight balls to go, Shobrooke got down to the last over from Bullock needing seven to win with last pair Nick Prell (32) and Peter Turner (1) at the wicket.
Bullock bowled Prell with the fourth ball to earn Ivybridge a four-run win.
Skipper Gareth Andrews was quick to share the credit around after the win, saying: “It was another really good team performance with the ball and in the field.
“George Thompson's keeping was excellent with three catches and a stumping.
“We were always a little bit behind in the game but stuck with it and took our chances.”
Earlier, Andrews showed a welcome return to form with the bat after being out of the side due to injury He was last man out for 28. Adam Huxtable made 29.
Pick of the bowlers with three for 39 was Alvin Pollard. There were two each for Turner, Phil Anning and Chris Simpson.
THORVERTON skipper Graham White believes the five-wicket win over Axminster has signalled the start of a promotion challenge.
Skipper Tristan Wakeley top scored for Axminster with 73 and there was 50 not out from Joel Seward in a total of 183 for six.
Aussie Dan Beatty took two for 22 and newcomer Alex Elston on his debut – he last played for Abbotskerswell – claimed two for 24.
Rain in the air meant stoppage time and a reduced target for Thors of 139, which they got with ease.
White made 45 and Dave Baldock went one better with 46.
Victory leaves Thors 26 points behind second-placed Bideford, a gap they will hope to slim down when they visit bottom side Stoke Gabriel this Saturday.
Said White: “We had a little blip mid-season when we played badly and didn’t deserve to win.
“With players coming back for the second half of the season and better availability in one or two cases, we intend to push hard for promotion.”
Axminster captain Wakeley said: “No complaints about the result, we've benefited from run rate before so can't complain.
The match was played in good spirit and thanks to Thorverton for honouring the minutes silence for Ryan Walker before the game.
“Personally it was nice to finally get some runs for the team and doing it on the occasion made it even more rewarding.”

BARNSTAPLE & Pilton edged a little closer to safety in the B Division with an 80-run derby win at Braunton.
Steve Moore’s men remain in the bottom two, but the gap between them and safety is down to 16 points.
And the team they have to get ahead of now is Braunton, who were bowled out for 138 chasing 219 to win.
Tom Popham batted through for an unbeaten 91 as B&P made 218 for six.
A stand of 72 with Jack Popham (32) and another of 59 with Lee Cole (37) got B&P going after they had been a moribund 24 for three.
There were two wickets each for Jon Higgs and Chris Needham.
Braunton struggled from the start – they were four for two under pressure from Jack Popham (2-12) and Jack Moore (1-27).
The home side carried on slipping to 50 for six and a dogged 57 from acting captain Jon Baglow came too late in the day to change anything.
Steve Moore (1-26) tied down one end against the side he used to captain while Paul Schiller (3-16) and Brady Saunders (2-18) took the wickets.
Barnstaple are at Ivybridge this Saturday while Braunton go to Plymstock.
BIDEFORD thrashed bottom side Stoke Gabriel by nine wickets to close the gap on Tavistock at the top of the table to 17 points.
Stoke, rock bottom with only one win all season, were bowled out for 103 in the 39th of their 45 overs.
Openers Billy Alcock (12) and Dave Bolland (37) provided a modest start of 25, but once Fred King (2-16) made the breakthrough wickets started to tumble.
Josh King (3-23) got stuck into the middle order, then Matt Barratt knocked over the tail with two for 15.
Opener Bolland was the ninth man out after a 96-ball stay for his 37.
Knocking off the runs didn’t take long for Bideford, who only lost skipper James Ford (18) getting there.
After opener Josh Roach (45no) and King had put on 65, Chris Luxton (12no) joined Roach to see off the rest.
PLYMSTOCK gave their season the lift it badly needed with a two-wicket win in a rain-affected game against leaders Tavistock.
While Tavvy have been sweeping all before them at the summit, they were unbeaten before Saturday, Plymstock have been closer to the bottom than the top for most of the season.
Teddy Richards slammed an unbeaten 108 for Plymstock to see them safely past the problems posed by Shaun Cleeve (3-24) and Jamie Stephens (3-34).
Tavvy are still top – they lead Bideford in second place by 17 points – but Plymstock have moved up to sixth.
Plymstock captain James Nichols would be the first to admit his side benefited from having a reduced target to chase after a break for rain, not that he was complaining after losing to Axminster three weeks ago in identical circumstances.
“Teddy was fantastic – his innings was simply unbelievable,” sad Nichols.
“He was composed under pressure, he picked his areas and backed himself to find the boundary, which he did on a regular basis.
“In fairness to Tavistock, the rain didn't help them after they had posted a big score.
“Credit to Shaun, he batted really well for his hundred. But it would have been interesting to see where they would have been if we had held our catches?”
For Tavvy skipper Shaun Daymond it was a day of mixed feelings as he made a maiden league century and still finished on the losing side.
“Reduced overs and runs made it hard, particularly as our three spinners couldn't bowl properly with a wet ball, which affected us massively,” said Daymond
“If we had taken our chances with Richards, who batted superbly, we would have won.”