Devon Cricket Board - E Division - Thom's ton not enough for Uplyme

E Division - Thom's ton not enough for Uplyme

E DIVISION
Uplyme and Lyme Regis couldn’t quite knock over Upottery but still emerged with a hefty points haul to maintain their hold on top spot in the E Division.
Rob Thom (110) and Mark Batey (53) out on 156 for the opening wicket and then Steve Batey (50no) and skipper Ash Caddy (40no) helped guide the side to a close of 263-2.
Ollie Rice then led the main Upottery resistance with a stubborn unbeaten 52 as Rod Holmes (3-35) and the home skipper (2-34) did their best to try and knock the visitors over.
Caddy, mindful that the games are counting down said: “There’s clearly four teams now looking for the two promotion places.
It’s in our hands and now is the time for cool heads.
At this stage of the season all the games are tough and it s very apt to say the next game is the most important one.”
On Saturday Uplyme and Lyme Regis travel to Kentisbeare knowing that a win in Mid Devon and they will effectively knock one of their three rivals for promotion out of the race.
Shaldon edged a couple of points closer to E Division leaders Uplyme and Lyme Regis with a maximum points victory over hosts Kilmington.
Carl Woolnough (5-40) and Mark Couch (4-43) combined to bowl Kilmington out for 171 – Dave Cooke top scoring for the East Devon men with 40.
The Shaldon run chase was hit early with then loss of two wickets and just 18 on the board but that was to be as good as it got for then home side as Shaemus McKenna thumped an unbeaten 105 and Couch completed a fine all-round effort with an unbeaten 51 as Shaldon romped home to win by eight wickets.
Of their five remaining games four of the opponents Shaldon face currently sit in the lower half of the table and so they will fancy their chances of stepping up a level next summer.
Kentisbeare are very much part of the promotion picture in the E Division after they picked up a first win since May 26 with a six wicket win at Tiverton and Bickleigh.
Andrew Chave (5-35), Charlie Smith (3-20) and Neil Farley (2-18) combined to bowl the home side out for 118.
Gary Farley then struck 43 to guide the Kent’s to a handsome victory.
Scott Chappell’s side have their big date with destiny this Saturday when they entertain table topping Uplyme and Lyme Regis.
If they can get the better of the East Devon side then they will be very much in then mix-up for one of the two promotion berths over the closing weeks of the campaign.
Bridestowe bounced back from the previous week’s surprise home defeat to claimed a six wicket, 19 point win at ailing Topsham St James.
Steve Drayner, making his first appearance of the season for Bridestowe, claimed 5-38 as the Bonfire Field side were bowled out for 119.
It would have been far less but for an excellent knock from skipper Ross Treleaven who hit 42.
Treleaven then claimed two of the four visiting wickets to finish with 2-44, but James Ewan (25) and knocks of 24 from both the Fogartys, Tom and Mark, eased Bridestowe to victory.
Bridestowe, who sit just 13 points off second placed Shaldon host Tiverton and Bickleigh before they face what looks a promotion show-down at home to Kentisbeare on August 11, as they bid to win one of the coveted promotion places.
Whitchurch gave their bid to avoid the drop from the E Division a real boost with a 15-point haul from a winning draw at Kenn.
Billy Barriball hit an unbeaten 101 and skipper Richard Hall weighed in with 68 as Whitchurch closed on 246-4.
Kenn made a great fist of the run chase but were forced to settle for a losing draw on 214-8.
Matt Wonnacott (57) and Andy Gosling (52) struck half centuries whilst Mark Kerswell (3-50) and Charlie Bariball (2-33) claimed wickets.
Whitchurch now have back to back home games with first Upottery and then Shaldon as they look to widen the gap between themselves and the bottom two, a gap that currently stands at 17 points.

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