Devon Cricket Board - Acton bats through in Chudleigh win

Acton bats through in Chudleigh win

RICHARD Acton played a skipper’s innings just when it was needed most to steer Abbotskerswell to a three-wicket win over bottom side Chudleigh.

Jake DeAraugo (3-21) and Hugo Whitlock (3-16) did the early damage as Chudleigh slumped to 38 for seven.

Sachintha Galhenage proved a tougher nut to crack though and batted through for nearly two hours for an unbeaten 62.

With Jack Beer and Jack Vittles hanging around, the last three wickets added 73 runs as Chudleigh cobbled up 111 all out.

Abbots batting proved just as fragile as they nosedived to 64 for six in reply.

Faisal Khaliq did most of the damage, picking off Paul Mitchell and DeAraguo in successive balls then adding Toby Codd and Marcus Green on his way to figures of four for 18.

Acton wouldn’t be budged through and batted on and on for 87 balls in 111 minutes for 39 not out.

Guy Harrison-Roberts were with Acton at the end, unbeaten on nine.

Modest skipper Acton was quick to share the credit around rather than take too much of it himself.

“For the second week in a row our bowlers won us the game,” said Acton,

“We were patient when we bowled and were rewarded by reducing Chudleigh to 22 for six.

“Whitlock and DeAraugo were on top form, always looked like taking wickets.

“Perhaps we took our foot off the pedal but their overseas batted well to see them to 111.

“Once again our batting stuttered on the way to a small total, but we showed some fight to get over the line and make it two wins in a row.

Chudleigh remain winless at the bottom of the table, but Abbots are on the up as they have gone 22 points clear of Hatherleigh in the second drop spot.

For Chudleigh captain Ed Foreman, one of only three batters to reach double figures, it was case of what might have been…

“We we're let down dramatically by our batsmen,” said Foreman.

“In a low-scoring game, where another 20-30 runs would have won it for us, to not bat all our overs was poor.

“Sach batted well but got no real support.

“On the other hand the rest of our game was excellent and a result was one dropped catch away.

“If it had stuck then we would have won, but that's the luck we just haven't been getting.”

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