Devon Cricket Board - A Divison round-up: Heathcoat unbeaten at top

HEATHCOAT made it two wins on the spin at the top of the A Division table with a comfortable seven-wicket victory at Plymstock.

Having won at Barton on the opening day of the season, Plymstock were in high spirits going into the match.

It was a different story after Heathcoat held the home side to 120 for nine, then knocked off the runs with more than 20 overs to spare.

Plymstock were 40 for one then 66 for six which tells you where it went wrong for them.

“It was a bad toss to lose as we definitely batted in the worst of the conditions. Having

Mark Abbott (25) and Callum Cload (24) had the only scores of note for Plymstock. Jack Meheneott spun his way to four for 17 in 10 overs

Heathcoat skipper Sam Smith blazed away for 66, getting his side past a hundred in the process. Mitch Baker (29no) finished the job.

There was a wicket each for Seb Jordan, Dave Orchard and Abbott.

Skipper Smith said the win at Plymstock was one to be pleased with.

“It was a good all-round performance in very tough playing conditions,” said Smith.

“Jack Menheneott bowled with control and accuracy and made a difference with the ball.

“Having said that our out-fielding and discipline with the ball both need improvement.

“What was especially pleasing was seeing Mitch Baker bat and adapt well to a tough English wicket.

Heathcoat entertain Hatherleigh this Saturday.

SANDFORD are set up nicely for their trip to Paignton after a rousing 116-run win at Abbotskesrswell.

Although opener Richard Tucker made a top score of 66, it looked like a struggle for Sandford after they slumped from 102 for three after 16 overs to 150 for eight.

The day was saved by keeper Chris Blake coming in down the order and making 24 to help the total up to 215 all out.

Marcus Green spun his way to three for 31 for Abbots and there were two wickets each for Charlie Garratt and Richard Acton.

Abbots start brightly enough with Acton (23) and Alex Birt (23) making inroads into the target.

Losing three wickets for no runs didn’t help, among them Acton as Abbots nosedived to 74 for six.

Simon Ashplant (2-35) whipped out Acton and after that it was downhill all the way to 99 all out with Linton Terblanche (3-17) and Matt Theedom (2-8) finishing what Ashplant and Jamie Palmer (2-15) had started.

PLYMPTON skipper Jeremy Williams said the best is yet to come from his side after they beat Hatherleigh by five wickets at Harewood House.

Andy Walter cracked 66 and Wessel Hartslief hit a brisk 80 as Plympton knocked of 208 to win.

It was comfortable enough, but Williams said it could have been more emphatic.

“If I am honest we were probably chasing 30 too many,” said Williams.

“Hatherleigh look a decent side – lots of young, enthusiastic players – and were always looking for runs.

“We could and should have bowled and fielded a bit better.

“When we went out to bat we didn’t do a lot wrong.

“Andy Walter showed yet again what a good batsman he is.

“Walts knows his job and when he does it we tend to do well.

“Wessel came in and smashed it – 80 off 46 balls I think it was – and that was pretty well game over.

“Once he got out all Matt Gregory and myself had to do was drag us over the line.”

Jack Cherrington top scored for Hatherleigh with 80, putting on 70 for the fourth wicket with Andy Collier (29) after Gareth Tidball had been and gone for 22.

Ryan Davies finished on 32 not out in Hatherleigh’s total of 207 for six.

The wickets were shared around with Pavi Mawalgi (3-27) the pick of Plympton’s bowlers.”

Plympton were never in any real trouble knocking off the runs. Walter and Hartslief’s stand of 105 for the fourth wicket ended the game as contest.

For Hatherleigh skipper Mark Lake it was one that got away.

“We posted a decent score after being put in on a damp wicket and we looked to have the game under control when they needed 100 off the final 13 overs.

“With some luck and a couple of missed chances, the game was taken away from us by their overseas player

The points don’t really reflect how close the game was.”

BARTON took the A Division Bay derby spoils home from Brixham, where they chased 211 to win with time to spare.

Andrew Lewin made Brixham’s top score of 89 in a total of 210 for eight – which looked too many for Barton when they were 78 for four in reply.

A stand of exactly 100 between Adam Parker (60) and Stephen Lewis (58no) got Barton back on course and they got over the line in the last of their 50 overs

.

PAIGNTON followed up their win over Abbotskerswell with a five-wicket victory away at Braunton.

There were three wickets each for George Benton and George Yates as Braunton recovered from 49 for five to make 160 for nine – ex-Torquay favourite Jon Baglow top scoring with 43.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Paignton – they were 20 for four and 74 for five in reply – but Chris Kelmere (61no) and Benton (32no) knocked off the last 95 without further mishap.