Devon Cricket Board - A Division: Salman takes ton off Paignton

A DIVISION

MOHAMMAD Salman crashed a century to put Cornwood on course for a hefty 124-run win over Paignton.

Pakistani Test star Salman took the Paignton attack for 106 as Cornwood amassed 241 four.

Along the way in a chanceless innings there were stands of 91 for the fourth wicket with skipper Craig Harris (30no), 74 for the third with Jason Hall (33) and 68 for the second with Ryan Rickard.

Salman fired 11 fours and a six during his 153-ball stay which ended when he was last man out, caught in the deep by Paignton captain Andy Kingdon off the bowling off Terry Farkins (2-53).

Paignton must have been sick of the sight of Salman by the end of the afternoon as he took four wickets to help bowl them out for 117.

Andy Bees – five for 19 from 12 overs – did the early damage then Mike Wood and Matt Butterworth kept the pressure on with tidy spells.

Salman (4-8) tidied up the tail.

Only George Benton (34) made a respectable score for Paignton.

That’s two wins on the bounce now for Cornwood, who are fourth in the table after three matches.

Skipper Harris said lessons learned in the opening day defeat by Brixham contributed to beating Paignton.

“Paignton bowled well up front and offered us no easy chances to score runs,” said Harris.

“Persistence at the crease, learned from the first game of the year, helped us to grind down the bowling, tick over the scoring and really set a platform for a total.

“Sal batted brilliantly for his 106, but without the support he wouldn't have been able to express himself as freely as he did.

“Bowling and fielding has been our strong point this year and it seemed this was the first game that all three elements clicked well.”

SOMERSET’S Lewis Gregory grabbed a six-wicket haul as Plympton crushed Plymstock by 93 runs in the city derby.

The two sides hadn’t met in the league since 1999 so players from both sides were keen to get it on.

Plympton, with Gregory released to them and Pakistani pacer Aamer Hayat had too much bowling firepower for Plymstock and shot them out for 125 chasing 219 to win.

Dave Wrench, who captained the side in the absence of Andy Walter, said Plympton played high-intensity cricket from the start which proved the deciding factor.

“Lewis went in to bat early and made 29 very quickly which gave us the momentum,” said Wrench.

“After eight overs we were 55 for two – a cracking start – and after that we had the momentum on our side.

“Because we got off to a flier we could afford to be patience during Plymstock’s good spells of bowling, which meant we were never really under pressure.

“I got 25, Jeremy Williams made 30 Aamer had 39 and Ross Farrer got 30-odd as well. It was a solid batting effort with everybody chipping in.

“Lewis then showed what a quality cricketer he is with his six for 16.”

Hayat had three for 39 at the other end from Gregory.

Although Plympton took the spoils fair and square, Plymstock had their successes too.

Hallam Kerton – who was with Plympton last year – showed his old pals a thing or two with a six for 66 bowling haul.

Plymstock will console themselves with the fact they won’t run into any other A Division side this season with two current First Class players operating with the new ball.

They may also reflect though that Gregory will only make infrequent appearances for his home club and they were unlucky enough to run into him!

Plymstock captain Dave Orchard said while there were areas to improve on there was little which would have changed the outcome of the game.

"To be fair, Lewis Gregory was the difference between the sides," said Orchard.

"Take him out of the equation as there was not a lot between us.

"When you step up a division, as we have this season, you have to expect to run into better players.

"One or two of our younger lads have not been in this sort of environment before and the sense of occasion got to them.

"We should have kept them to 180-190, but other than that we did all we could.

"At the start of the season we said when we were in a position not to win a game we would work for every point so I was happy to come away with seven from the game."

EXETER skipper Jon Tipper knows there are tougher tests ahead as his side step up their promotion push with a visit from Plympton this Saturday.

Exeter took 16 points from their drawn game with Shobrooke Park last time out, which was enough to keep them top of the table.

Right behind Exeter are Plympton, who have won every game they have played so far, including a hefty 93-run victory over Plymstock last time out.

“Plympton came down last season and judging from their results are pretty serious about going straight back up,” said Tipper.

“If we want to get promoted this season – and we do – these are the games we have to win.”

Exeter racked up 256 for five – Mike Wilkinson making 90 not out – then had Shobrooke hanging on at 167 for seven when the overs ran out.

Shobrooke are five points adrift in the relegation spaces already and appear to be heading for a repeat of last season’s scrap to stay up.

Wilkinson batted from start to finish for Exeter, putting on 92 for the firth wicket with Rob Williams.

Chris Webb chipped in with 42.

Pete Steer (3-60) was the most effective of the Shobrooke bowlers – and their best batter as well.

Steer made 50 and Emanuel Parmakellis 38. There were two wickets each for Adam Gribble and fellow spinner Callum Still.

Shobrooke travel to Braunton this Saturday looking to end a three-game wait for a win.

SOUTH Devon host Brixham in the next round of fixtures still looking for that elusive first league win of the season.

Arch rivals Abbotskerswell turned them over by 77 runs last time out, a result which leaves South Devon one off the bottom of the table.

Abbots were all out for 185 having recovered from 80 for four thanks to a stand of 59 between skipper Richard Lake (41) and Marcus Green (27) for the fifth wicket.

Richard Ashworth had made 21 at the top of the order in an effective, new opening partnership with Alex Birt that put 42 on for the first wicket.

South Devon new boy Sam Davies (5-50) and spinner Matt Coult (2-46) appeared to have bowled the Newton Abbot team into a winning position.

Abbots then reduced South Devon to 54 for six in reply – Phil Allen (3-15) and Rob Shergold (5-31) doing the damage – and despite a battling 39 by Paul Hooper against his former club they were shot out for 108 with 16 overs to go.

Looking back at the game, South Devon skipper Adrian Hewings said: “Although we bowled well, unfortunately we couldn't hold key catches which would have changed the chase.

“Positives to take away from the game were five wickets on debut for Sam Davies and a good bowling performance all round.”

Abbots skipper Lake was pleased his ploy of pairing Birt with Ashworth, but feels the batting still isn’t right.

“We still aren’t building good enough parternships,” said Lake, who takes Abbots to Paignton on Saturday.

BRIXHAM go to South Devon this Saturday looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season.

Matt Renwick was the top scorer with 42 as Brixham were bowled out for 182 with more than three overs to go.

Braunton knocked off the target with three wickets in hand and were into the second of their extra overs when they hit the winning runs.

Brixham went in fits and starts when they batted. Renwick and Craig Eaves (25) got them up to 124 for three – then the next three wickets fell for just one run added.

Tim Robinson (25) and Mark Gilmour got the score going a second time.

Pick of the Braunton bowlers by a distance with five for 29 was Andy Paddison

Jas Kalsi smacked 69 to get Braunton iup and running and when he left at 127 they were well on their way.

Lee Upham (4-24) made it interesting for a while and at 167 for seven Brixham had a chance. Darren Hawkings (18no) and Braunton captain Jon Baglow (11no) settled it.

Happy captain Baglow said: “We worked hard in the field and wickets came.

“We took overs with us and like last week against Plymptopn, used them in chasing the target.

“It shows how important that side of the game is.

“Jas batted well and a good partnership with Ian Roberts put us in a good position.”

“Braunton don’t have any overseas help this season and Baglow said there are appears to have been a dividend from that decision.

“No disrespect to any overseas we have had, but we seem to be playing better without one,” said Baglow.

“Others are more involved, getting more opportunities and taking on the extra responsibility.

“The atmosphere in the field is very good and we are pulling together and working hard which is very pleasing.”