Devon Cricket Board - A Division - Exeter have promotion cracked

SHOBROOKE Park will be looking to pull away from the A Division drop zone when they go to Abbotskerswell.
Justin Dollow’s team duly delivered the win they needed over doomed South Devon last time out to avoid being cast adrift in the bottom two.
Braunton and Abbotskerswell have to be overtaken to be out of danger – and the way Abbots’ recent results have gone Dollow will be quietly confident.
South Devon were limited to 165 for eight in 50 overs – and only got that far from 40 for four thanks to Hammad Ul-Hassan (50) and David Knowles (35) getting among the runs
There were three wickets for Ben Trenaman (3-26) and two for Eric Parmakellis (2-39).
South Devon got off to a dream start when Jonty Parsons (-48) dismissed Jon James first ball.
Wickets continued to tumble until Pete Turner (36) and Richard Pyle (33no) put on a match-winning stand of 59.
“It was a bit too close for comfort, but the experience in the middle order made the difference,” said Dollow.
“It was an exciting game, but we got the result we needed.”
Disappointed South Devon skipper Adrian Hewings said his side did themselves no favours.
“Catches win matches and if we'd held a chance in the penultimate over they'd have needed twelve of the last with only two wickets left,” said Hewings.
“Fair play to Shobrooke. They've given themselves a good chance to stay up.

CORNWOOD have installed themselves as favourites for the second promotion place out of the A Division behind champs elect Exeter by beating rivals Abbotskerswell by eight wickets.
Plympton did second-placed Cornwood a huge favour by winning at Paignton, who were neck and neck with the Corns going into the latest round of fixtures.
Cornwood remain second and Paignton third, but the gap between them has widened to 18 points.
If Cornwood beat winless South Devon this Saturday and Paignton slip up against Exeter, Premier cricket could return to Oak Park next summer after an absence of 10 years.
Abbots were bowled out for 97 by Mike Wood (5-24), skipper Craig Harris (2-14) and Elliot Staddon (2-9). Mark Hulse made 46, but too many of his team-mates got out playing poor shots.
Conditions at Two Mile Oak were not great as the start time approached, but Abbots were keen to get the game on and prepared a new wicket as the original was to wet to play.
Although Abbots had problems batting on the new track, Cornwood sailed home with Chris Parker (34) and Mohammad Salman (42no) leading the way.
Generous skipper Harris said Abbots deserved huge praise for their positive approach to getting the game on.
“We had a call in the morning to say they had been advised the ground was looking wet and not ready for cricket so, after choosing to travel, we arrived and they started to prepare another track,” said Harris.
“Getting the game on, with reduced overs, was a real effort and a credible attitude which isn't seen enough these days.
“Credit in particular to their captain Richard Lake, who was instrumental in getting the game going.”
Harris said it was about time Wood got the wickets his hard work had deserved – and praised the fielders for taking eight catches.
As for promotion, Harris is just a little wary not to get carried away too soon. “All we can do is play our best and win our games,” said Harris.
“If we get the result we want this weekend then we will see what happens elsewhere.
“We don't expect any other team to do our work for us, so making sure we perform will be the priority.”
Abbots’ skipper Lake said from what he had seen Cornwood were ready for the next step up.
“Defending 96 always going to be tough, even with some tight bowling, and Cornwood showed what a quality side they are and why they are clear favourites to go up with Exeter,” said Lake.

PLYMPTON showed what they can do when it all comes together with a five-wicket win on the chase at Paignton.
Paignton had been the side to catch for the second promotion spot until last Saturday when they could only draw with Plymstock and Cornwood went past them.
It looked like Plympton would be chasing a huge total after Richard Ashworth (69) and Brady Barneds (43) put on 115 for the second wicket, but Plympton skipper Andy Walter had other ideas.
Walter brought himself into the attack to take the pace off the ball and promptly took a career best seven wickets for 41 runs as Paignton were slowed to 217 for nine.
Plympton timed their chase to perfection having been pointed in the right direction by Josh Mailling (53) and David Wrench (44).
Barends (4-64) caused an occasional interruption, but with Amir Hayat and Harry Kandampully in the middle, Plympton got over the line with five balls to go.
“If we hadn’t bowled so many wides we would have won eight overs sooner,” said Walter.
“Batting wise we started well and kept having partnerships thought the innings.
“Josh batted really well, before getting himself out, as did Wrenchy.
Amir and Harry batted really well to see us over the line. A great win over a very good side.”
Paignton captain Andy Kingdon was left wondering whether his side had peaked too soon after a second successive negative result.
“We chucked it away by losing quick wickets down the order,” said Kingdon.
“We bowled okay, but without conviction.
“Plympton out played us in the end and deserved the win.”
PLYMSTOCK came a proper cropper at Brixham, where they slumped to a 142-run defeat.
Matt Stringfellow hit a top score of 91 for Brixham in a total of 239 for eight.
Stringfellow, who was out in the final over, put on 136 for the first wicket with Andrew Lewin (46) and there was a chip in of 32 from Richard Ward.
Dave Orchard was the pick of the Plymstock bowlers with five for 51.,
Plymstock were 22 for none and 58 for three on the chase with Matt Reynolds (29) among the runs. Then it all went pair-shaped.
Craig Eaves (3-31), Lee Upham (3-17) and Stringfellow (2-20) got among the wickets as Plymstock went via 61 for six to 97 all out.
A feature of Brixham’s fielding display was the seven catches taken behind the wicket or in the slip and gully cordon.
EXETER will be back in the Premier Division next season after clinching promotion thanks to a 52-run win over Braunton.
The signs didn’t look good for Exeter after they had been held to 102 for nine in a 37-over game – Miles Lenygon scoring 23 and Will Steward 27.The city side needed a fightback after being 27 for three.
Jon Baglow picked up four for 21 for Braunton and there were two wickets each for Alex Hodges and Harry Booker.
Braunton collapsed from 43 for three to 50 all out – that’s seven wickets at a run each – as Callum Still (4-16), Andy Mead (3-3) and Adam Gribble (2-21) took them apart.
Tom Mitcham’s 20 was as good as it got for Braunton, who have dropped to just nine point off the relegation places.
Exeter are definitely up – only Cornwood can catch them in a division with two promotion places – but need two more points to do it as champions.
“I would be heartily hacked off if we can’t get two points from our last two games,” said Exeter skipper Jon Tipper.
“The job isn’t over until we have won the league and having gone 16 games unbeaten we don’t want to lose our record in the last two games.”