Devon Cricket Board - A Division - South Devon unlucky losers

A DIVISION

SHOBROOKE Park captain Chris Ford might have to rethink his vision of the future after it almost all went wrong against Paignton.

Having won on the chase at Braunton seven days earlier to move off the bottom of the A Division table, Ford felt Shobrooke had turned the corner.

Paignton made that statement looked over-ambitious by smashing 340 for two declared against Shobrooke with Seb Benton and Connor Bryan both scoring centuries.

Brady Barends (70) and Andy Kingdon (20no) piled more misery on the Shobrooke bowlers before the declaration came with six overs to go.

Had Paignton declared earlier they may have won the game outright.

With George Benton taking four wickets and Barends two more, Shobrooke were 80 for nine with skipper Chris Ford blocking for all he was worth when the heavens opened and the game was called off.

Shobrooke are at home to Brixham this Saturday.

PLYMSTOCK were well placed against Abbotskerswell when their game was called off.

Abbots made 233 for six declared with Richard Lake (53), Josh Dowling (53) and Chris Kelmere (64) all on top of the bowling.

There were two wickets each for Morgan Parkinson and Dave Orchard.

Plymstock were 121 for three with 20 overs to bat when rain stopped play. Matt Smith was undefeated on 38.

THE long-awaited derby clash between Plympton and Cornwood came to a soggy end when rain stopped play just as it was getting interesting.

Dave Wrench (48) and Josh Mailing (34) put on 90 for the second wicket in Plympton’s only stand of note as they made 174 for nine in all 50 overs.

Rob Dart took five for 31 and Mohammad Salman two for 32.

Cornwood batted for 19 overs between the showers before the umpires said enough was enough.

Plympton’s stand-in captain David Wrench said it was impossible to predict how the game would have gone.

“I felt we were 50 runs short of a competitive total, which was our own fault for losing concentration again,” said Wrench.

“We were 94 for two then 115 for five, which wasn’t good enough.

“Having said that we had got Salman out in their 56 for two and that was a bonus for us as it would have put pressure on the batting Cornwood had to come.”

Cornwood skipper Craig Harris said he had mixed feelings about the game as his side were poised to kick on but denied the chance.

“Plympton lost an early wicket, but Dave Wrench and Josh Mailing batted very well and correctly after to consolidate,” said Harris.

“They showed us the discipline needed on the wicket and only until we broke through with a run-out did we see the runs slow and wickets tumble.

“From 94-1 to end at 174-9 was a great effort. Robin Dart took 5-31 in his first 1st XI game of the year, which was the stand out, but the teams application and fielding was the big factor to the innings.

“When we went out to bat we knew if we batted 50 overs we would be in the mix and with 31 overs to go at 56 for two who knows?!

“We take a lot of confidence from this game, having taken 10 points and being in a great position when the rain came in.”

SOUTH Devon were the unlucky losers in the A Division as their game was the only one finished before it started to rain.

The bad news for South Devon was that was always the probable outcome after Jon Baglow (4-17) and Harry Booker (4-40) had bowled them out for just 116.

After Ali Wright (49) and Hammad Usman (11) got South Devon up to 79 for three, it went downhill to 87 for six then 116 all out.

Braunton had 67 overs to knock off the runs and did it in just 22.2.

Jas Kalsi made 24 and new boy Lawrence May, ex of Barnstaple & Pilton, had an unbeaten 47 on his debut. Pat Duke (2-17) was South Devon’s most successful bowler.

South Devon visit table topping Exeter this Saturday still looking for their first win of the season.

Skipper Adrian Hewings said there were some plusses to come out of the wreckage, but not too many.

“Ali Wright batted very well and Pat Duke and Jonty Parsons played positively to get us over 100,” said Hewings.

“We must bat our overs though.

“Hats off to Braunton as they did a very professional job.

“Our young lads who stepped up from the seconds have learnt a lot about what is required.

“It's good to hear comments about our energy and spirit in the field throughout.”

After the defeat sustained against Shobrooke seven days earlier, Braunton skipper Baglow got the response he wanted.

“Our bowling and fielding was 110 per cent better and we only bowled one wide in the first 30 overs and four all game,” said Baglow.

“Having Harry Booker back made a difference, although we still missed Andy Paddison who can’t bowl due to an injury.

“Lawrence May hit the first ball he faced for four and smashed it all round on his debut.”

It is Cornwood away for Braunton this Saturday,

EXETER, at home to South Devon this Saturday, were given a scare at Brixham where they were close to losing for the first time this season.

Matt Stringfellow (61) and Mark Newman (43) put on 108 for the third wicket after Brixam had been nine for two early on.

Spinners Adam Gribble (3-24) and Callum Still (3-50) kept Brixham on their toes. George Northcott’s 27 helped get the home side up to 176 all out.

Exeter were in dire straights at 100 for seven after 23 overs when rain stopped play.

Skipper Mark Orchard (5-36) and Craig Eaves (2-36) had bagged all the wickets. Still made 25.

Brixham have been a bit hit-and-miss this season, but Orchard said they are finally starting to fire.

“We are a positive side – a bit too positive sometimes – but when we concentrate at it this is how we can play,” said Orchard.

“I am not about to say we are a promotion side after one performance, but I would say it shows we can live with the best in our division.”

Exeter skipper Jon Tipper said he was impressed by Brixham more than by his own team.

“Adam and Callum bowled really well and to hold Brixham to 176 was a good effort,” said Tipper.

‘What we didn’t do was apply ourselves at the top of our order against a very good seam attack. I thought Mark Orchard bowled brilliantly.

“I would not like to predict the outcome from the state of the game when it was called off.

“It is unlikely we would have won – not impossible – and to come away with 12 points was a real bonus.”