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SUNDAY, MAY 11

THERE were two new Divisional League records set in week six with the previous highest partnership for any wicket being broken at Bude where the opening pair of Andrew De Rose and skipper Ben Purcell made hay in the sunshine.

   They the visiting Victoria attack for a right run around as they added 338 runs before Purcell fell for 85. De Rosa went on to remain unbeaten from first ball to final delivery and as he walked off the score board showed his side closing on 388-2 of which his contribution was 243, thus passing the highest individual score in Division Four, the unbeaten 235 that James Starkey struck for North Devon against Lynton & Lynmouth II in 2006.

   The De Rosa, Purcell partnership topped the previous highest for any wicket of 335, that scored by Richard Foan and Matt Theedom for Sandford in 2004 and there has only been one other innings greater than that of De Rosa's, that being a knock of 273 by J Charles for Heathcoat against Rackenford back in 1991.

   Bude duly won the Division Four game as opponents Victoria Park, who also put bat to ball very well in an entertaining contest, closed on 281-7.

   The day's other record breaking feat came in the Division Five game at Halberton where the visiting pair of Charlie Williams (61no) and Tony Pickard (35no) added 101 for the ninth wicket, this passing the previous best in the Division set by S Reynolds and A Westaway of Westleigh in 2001.

   The only higher ninth-wicket partnership throughout the Five Division League came in 1996 when the late order pair J Parkinson and C Withey of Lord Tankards put on 125.

   Week six also produced an extraordinary finish at Bishops Nympton and a close-run thing at Halberton.

   The Division Four game at Bishops Nympton ended when the home side, who had fielded with just nine men as visiting Bideford II posted a total of 253-9, came out after tea, faced one ball and promptly declared at 0-0.

   The visitors will of course claim the 20 points but the ending was less than satisfactory.

   It seems that the home side, who did not have an umpire of scorer were not prepared to see out their innings and they declared after just one delivery from the 14 year old Bideford II opening bowler.

   The ‘near thing' conclusion came in the Division Five game at Halberton where the two sides who came first and second in last years Division Six met.

   The visitors arrived in Mid Devon having not lost a game since they joined the League at the start of last season. They were in some trouble at 140-8 but then saw their 9 th wicket pairing set a new League mark to leave the side closing on 239-8.

   The home side shared around the run chasing duties and the game was not won until the penultimate ball of the game when last man Matt Smalley pushed a single,

   Smalley and Ben Franks at the other end set off for a single, a throw at the stumps came in and had it hit then the unbeaten record would have remained, but the ball missed the stumps by a whisker and flew to the boundary for a five and Halberton claimed a dramatic single-wicket win.

   A delighted Dan Coles, who had hit 49 in his side's successful run chase said: “That was a cracking game of cricket, it was anyone's game at different periods of the contest and I think everybody who took part made some form of contribution.”

   Opposite number Bernie Wittram said: “Charlie (Williams) and Tom (Pickard) batted superbly to get us up to a decent total, but sadly it wasn't to be. We'll see what sort of reaction we get next time out because this side is not used to losing, mind you that throw at the stumps to win us the game was a jolly near thing, it was a fabulous game of cricket.”

SCOREBOARDS

Division One :

North Devon 240-3 (S. Rhodes 130, D Pickard 42), Beaford 130. North Devon (20pts) bt Beaford (2) by 110 runs.

Filleigh 218 (M Prideaux 92, M Collier 33, J Kalsi 27; R Foan 2-17, B Leach 2-46), Sandford 184 (R Foan 55, P Randerson 35; J Hill 5-18, J Hickman 3-31). Filleigh (20pts) bt Sandford (8) by 34 runs.

 

Division Two :

Hatherleigh 281-7 (H Engel 145no, R Cockwill 42; J Tap 2-60), Bratton Fleming 185 (A Payne 100; T Rogers 5-26). Hatherleigh (20pts) bt Bratton Fleming (4) by 96 runs.

Barnstaple & Pilton 214-8 (A Barton 69, K Rollin 37; J Turner 3-42), Ilfracombe 45 (Extras 16; H McEndoo 5-15). Barnstaple & Pilton (20pts) bt Ilfracombe (0) by 169 runs.

Heathcoat 163 (L Peterson 101; M Cashmere 5-26, A Jeffrey 3-40), Victoria Park 129 (S Oliver 26; M Williams 3-24, P Moison 3-25). Heathcoat (20pts) bt Victoria Park (6) by 34 runs.

 

Division Three :

Morebath 168 (J Chilcott 45; T Batson 3-21, O Hunt 3-29, P Simmons 3-29), Bratton Fleming II 173-9 (G Barrow 58). Bratton Fleming II (20pts) bt Morebath (10) by 1 wkt.

North Devon II191-8 (M Weeks 4-38), Incorrigibles 192-3 (M Weeks 85no). Incorrigibles (20pts) bt North Devon II (3) by 7 wkts.

Shobrooke Park 317-6 (P Anning 142no, M Rawnsley 67, P Sara 44; D Edwards 2-26), Holsworthy 109 (J Tidball 24; D Manning 3-48). Shobrooke Park (20pts) bt Holworthy (0) by 208 runs.

 

Division Four :

Bideford II 253-9 (K Fishleigh 67, J King 38; N Lockhead 5-60), Bishops Nympton 0-0 dec. Bideford II (20pts) bt Bishops Nympton (0) by 253 runs.

Bude 388-2 (A De Rosa 243no, B Purcell 85), Victoria Park II 281-7 (A Oliver 54; C Walker 3-62). Bude (20pts) bt Victoria Park II (6) by 107 runs.

Kelseymen 104 (M Lewis 24; J Gordon 3-16), North Devon III 105-1 (T Ansell 47no, D Payne 26no; M Lewis 1-30). North Devon III (20pts) bt Kelseymen (1) by 9 wkts.

Lynton & Lynmouth II 139 (E Beer 65), Shebbear 141-4 (O Wickets 73, R Hoskins 23). Shebbear (20pts) bt Lynton & Lynmouth II (4) by 6 wkts.

 

Division Five :

Barnstaple & Pilton III 160 (W Speed 42, S Pim 33; Firth 4-26), Nomansland 161-6 (A Crossman 43; M Metters 2-20). Nomansland (20pts) bt Barnstaple & Pilton III (6) by 4 wkts.

Filleigh III 202-4 (C Popplewell 49, C Nye 43no), Bradninch II 203-1 (R Acton 95no, C Dean 78). Bradninch II (20pts) bt Filleigh III by 9 wkts.

Weare Giffard 239-8 (C Williams 61no, M Heddon 41, T Pickard 35no; B Franks 6-26), Halberton 243-9 (D Coles 49, M Busch 39, D Partridge 35, J Turner 28no; C Williams 2-36). Halberton (20pts) bt Weare Giffard (10) by 1 wkt.

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