Devon Cricket Board - D Division - Yelverton top despite rain off

D Division - Yelverton top despite rain off

YELVETON stay top after their game with title chasing rivals Seaton fell foul of a waterlogged wicket.
With four to play Richard West’s side hold a nine point’s lead over Seaton.
They are also 14 points clear of third placed Feniton in what now looks a five team race for the two promotion berths with Filleigh and the form-side, Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough also in the mix.
Seaton skipper Ben Morgan was left bemused at the news that his side’s game at top of the table Yelverton had fallen foul of the Friday night and Saturday morning rain.
Morgan said: “It did seem very strange. Especially given the fact we’d thumped them at our place earlier in the season. We are both pressing for promotion and this was a crucial game in terms of the run–in. In what has been an unusually soggy season they (Yelverton) had not called a home game off all season and yet, when we are due to visit, the weather apparently knocks the game out! It’s all so frustrating for it does mean, certainly on paper, that Yelverton will now be able to resist a challenge from us given their run-in of Countess Wear and Halberton and Sampford Peverell at home and Whimple and Cockington away.
The two teams sit first and second in the D Division table separated by nine points and Seaton begin their run-in of four games on Saturday with a visit to another of the promotion hopefuls, Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough. They then entertain Honiton before travelling to Filleigh and finishing off with a home game against Whimple on September 1.
Morgan says: “It’s in our hands and if we can play to our collective ability in Plymouth on Saturday and get a positive result then that ought to be sufficient to help us through the three following games. This Saturday’s game is massive in terms of our season’s endeavours.
Filleigh’s promotion push was held up at Whimple where they were forced to settle for a losing draw in what was a thrilling encounter.
Mark Prideaux (95) and Ryan Bowden (66) were the only two batsmen to get grips with bowler friendly conditions. Then pair helped their side to maximum bating points at 200-7. The East Devon hosts then made a great fist of the run chase, closing on 198-5. Martin Brice claimed 2-29 for Filleigh who took 15 points from the game and now sit twelve points short of second placed Seaton with four to play. They travel to Countess Wear on Saturday.
Whimple remain unbeaten since June 30 after they so nearly put a huge dent in Filleigh’s promotion hopes.
The North Devon side closed on 200-7 with Whimple skipper Ben Silk claiming 3-9 from four overs and Jono Burden taking 3-51 from nine.
The home skipper then led from the front with a splendid 71. He and Mike Searle (47) out on 64 for the first wicket and then the skipper and Paul Gillard (40) put on 101 for the second wicket.
At the start of the final over eight were needed to bag a sensational victory, but it proved just a little too many and they closed two short on 198-5.
Silk said: “I am so pleased with the side’s application. Batting has been a problem all season so it was so refreshing to see everyone chipping in and us getting so close to a great run chase.”
On Saturday Whimple host table topping Yelverton when fellow East Devon sides Seaton and Feniton will both be hoping that Silk’s men again do the business!
Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough warmed up for their big game next Saturday with promotion rivals Seaton with an 18-point triumph at Halberton and Sampford Peverell.
Dan Windsor claimed 3-40 as the Mid Devon side closed on 202-7.
Andy Hawker (54no) and Rob Walker (52no) then powered their side to a six wicket win.

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