Devon Cricket Board - Allin hammers ton in losing cause

STAY IN NORTH DEVON LEAGUE - MAY 13
JUST two games were played in the top division but they produced 1,000 runs between them! The most came on the batsman’s paradise that was Creedy Park, Sandford where the home side posted an imposing total of 316-5. Neil Bettis (69) and Bob Eames (77) added 123 for the opening wicket and then Luke Wright (90) and Eames added 73 for the second.
Bideford made a great bid to chase the total down led by an opening stand of 184 between James Ford (93) and Matt Allin (130). Both fell to Russell Discombe. Ford was run out thanks to Discombe’s direct throw and then Allin was caught by Discombe as the reply came up just short at 286-6.
At Braunton the home side were bowled out for 199 with Ian Roberts (45), Alec Hodges (44) and Dom Bracher (42) the principle run scorers. Gary Chatham picked up 4-32 including a hat-trick in his final over. Indeed, he claimed four wickets in five deliveries. Rob Gear took 2-24 and then led the successful run chase with 96 whilst Simon Gear struck 50 as a four wicket win was secured by the visitors. Chris Brigden took 3-49 and Dan Crocombe 2-37 for the home side.
In Division Two Lynton and Lynmouth were left ruing their one-man short status as they were within a single blow of winning their home game with Victoria Park! The visitors batted first and closed on 153-9. Will Anderson top scored with 31 whilst Pete Druce and Dave Proctor both bagged braces of wickets. Proctor then hit 33 to lead the run chase for the ten men, but it was number eight bat Druce who so nearly took his side over the winning line. He was last man out looking for the four that would tie the game when he was caught behind for 35. Mike Cashmore took 3-47 whilst Ian Brown sent down nine overs, six of which were maidens and claimed 2-8.
Nine-man Shebbear were beaten by seven wickets by visiting Incorrigibles. Ollie Wicket (36) and Jamie Chappell (35) provided the bulk of the Shebbear offering of 135. Ben Franks took 3-19 for the Witheridge side who were led to victory by Andrew Crossman (45) and Russell Hilton (40). Harry Landimore (2-31) was the main home wicket taker.
In Division Three Belstone’s Ryan Dennis came off the pitch on the losing side after his team lost to visiting Shobrooke Park by 81 runs. Dennis though, played his part as he top scored with 43 of his teams 101. Earlier he had also taken three wickets and held three catches as the Mid Devon men were bowled out for 182.
Matt Williams hit an unbeaten 85 to lead Holsworthy to a 52 run home win over Bratton Fleming. Rob Mitchell claimed 5-13 in 6.5 overs as the visiting team were bowled out in reply for 88.
There was no action for Bideford II as scheduled visitors Sandford II were unable to raise a side. Sandford Secretary Paul Smith weas most apologetic saying: “We have apologised to Bideford as we certainly did not like having to call the game off. However we did have an unprecedented 26 players unavailable through one reason or another.”
In Division Four Barnstaple and Pilton II were five-wicket winners at North Molton. Paul Schiller (3-18), Matt James (3-28) and Dom Ford (2-18) took the wickets with only Chris Turner’s 30 making much impression for the home side. Matt Clarke then stroked an unbeaten 44 and James Thomas weighed in with 36 as the win was confirmed. Pete Davis picked up 2-19 for the beaten hosts.
North Devon III were 51 run winners at Ilfracombe. Jamie Sutton (4-16) and Nigel Fairchild (3-20) combined to restrict the Instow based visitors to 141-8. However, that was as good as it got for the home team as they were bowled out for 90 in reply with only Mark Cavanagh (37) making much impression. Bob Heaman took 2-4 for the visiting side.
In Division Five Barnstaple and Pilton III were three wicket winners at home to Hatherleigh II who they bowled out for 107. Colt Ethan Paddon took 3-14 for Barum whilst Andrew Yelland’s knock of 21 was bettered only by the 37 extra’s conceded by the home attack! Simon Pim led the successful run chase with 36. John Walsh did his best to bowl Hatherleigh back into contention with 3-7 from five overs. One interesting statistic to come out of the game is that, of the 16 wickets that fell in the game, no fewer than 14 were a result of their stumps being knocked over!
There was a glut of runs at Bishops Nympton where both the hosts and Dulverton had a centurion in a contest that yielded 566 runs for the loss of 11 wickets. Toby Lockhead scored 138 and James Campbell was unbeaten on 51 as Bishops Nympton closed on 301-7. Lee Hooper then hit an unbeaten 116 as the Dulverton reply ran out of overs at 265-4.
There was no play possible at Victoria Park owing to a still soggy outfield!

Division One
Braunton 199 (I Roberts 45, A Hodges 44, D Bracher 42; G Chatham 4-32 – including a hat-trick), R Gear 2-24), Newton Tracey 200-6 (R Gear 96, S Gear 50; C Brigden 3-49, DS Crowcombe 2-27). Newton Tracey (290pts) bt Braunton (6) by 4 wkts.
Sandford 316-5 (L Wright 90, B Eames 77, N Bettis 69), Bideford 286-6 (M Allin 130, J Ford 93). Sandford (20pts) bt Bideford (10) by 30 runs.
Division Two
Shebbear 135 (O Wicket 36, J Chappell 35; B Franks 3-19), Incorrigibles 136-3 (A Crossman 45, R Hilton 40; H Landimore 2-31). Incorrigibles (20pts) bt Shebbear (3) by 7 wkts.
Victoria Park 153-9 (W Anderson 33; P Druce 2-11, D Proctor 2-23), Lynton and Lynmouth 149 (P Druce 35, D Proctor 33; M Cashmore 3-47, I Brown 2-8). Victoria park (20pts) bt Lynton and Lynmouth (10) by 4 runs.
Division Three
Holsworthy 140-8 (M Williams 85no), Bratton Fleming 88 (R Mitchell 5-13). Holsworthy (20pts) bt Bratton Fleming (4) by 52 runs.
Shobrooke Park 182, Belstone 101. Shobrooke Park (20pts) bt Belstone (2) by 81 runs.
Bideford versus Sandford II – match not played as Sandford II were unable to raise a side.
Division Four
North Molton 113 (C Turner 30; P Schiller 3-18, M James 3-28, D Ford 2-18), Barnstaple and Pilton II 116-5 (M Clarke 44no, J Thomas 36; P Davis 2-19). Barnstaple and Pilton II (20pts) bt North Molton (5) by 5 wickets.
North Devon III 141-8 (J Sutton 4-16, N Fairchild 3-20), Ilfracombe 90 (M Cavanagh 37; R Heaman 2-4). North Devon III (20pts) bt Ilfracombe (4) by 51 runs.
Heathcoat II 122, Petrockstowe 85. Heathcoat II (20pts) bt Petrockstowe (6) by 37 runs.
Division Five
Hatherleigh II 107 (A Yelland 21, extras 37; E Paddon 3-14), Barnstaple and Pilton III 108-7 (S Pim 36; J Walsh 3-7). Barnstaple and Pilton III (20pts) bt Hatherleigh II (7) by 3 wkts.
Bishops Nympton 301-7 (T Lockhead 138, J Campbell 51no), Dulverton 265-4 (L Hooper 116no). Bishops Nympton (20pts) bt Dulverton (8) by 36 runs.

Victoria Park II versus Nomansland. Match not played owing to waterlogged outfield.