A DIVISION – WEEK FIVE
EXMOUTH put South Devon to the sword by the huge margin of 183 runs.
For the second week running South Devon found themselves on the wrong end of a 300-plus total, but this time they couldn't salvage a draw,
Exmouth followed in Paignton's footsteps by amassing 308 for seven declared – David Lye hitting a top score of 82,
South Devon were skittled out for 125 in reply – and were lucky to make that many having been 33 for six ten overs in.
Exmouth enjoyed some hefty partnerships, headed by Richard Baggs (67) and Andy Buzza (65) putting on 96 for the fifth wicket.
Lye and James Burke (27) rattled up 91 earlier for the second wicket and there was quickfire 64 for the sixth wicket between Baggs and Phil Holland, whose 39 came off 22 balls.
South Devon's successes were limited to the odd morale booster during a hot afternoon in the field.
Dave Knowles (3-98) accounted for opener Stuart Rintoul cheaply and Chris Metters (3-65) dispatched Devon all-rounder Trevor Anning for nine.
Anning more than had his revenge with a six-wicket bag that helped put the skids under South Devon. Burke (3-36) kept the pressure on at the other end.
South Devon were saved from total embarrassment by seventh-wicket pair Phil Blackmore (57no) and Adrian Hewings (18), who stuck around long enough to add 60.
From 93 for seven it was only a question of time before South Devon were finished off and the answer came sooner rather than later.
Exmouth seem to be putting their hesitant start to the season behind them at last as they moved up to fourth and are just 10 points short of the second promotion spot.
QUASIM Adams was Heathcoat's man of the match in a 34-run win at Cornwood.
Heathcoat were glad of a 90-run stand between Adams (45) and Sam Smith (42) for getting them up to 186 for eight. A brisk 27 not out at the end from skipper Paul Elliot didn't do any harm either.
Kevin Willcock (4-49) pipped Andy Bees (3-37) in the Cornwood bowling stakes.
Cornwood were going along happily with Danny Harris (40) on top of the bowling, but no one backed him up substantially. Best of the rest were two scores of 16 by Scott Mansfield and Jamie Horgan.
Adams (4-44), Sam Wadham (3-20) and Jack Menheneott (2-43) put the skids under Cornwood as they lost the plot from 140 for five onwards.
Cornwood slumped to 152 all out, the last five wickets falling for just 12 runs.
Victory lifts Heathcoat to fifth, ahead of South Devon who were hammered at Exmouth.
CHUDLEIGH went down by nine wickets in the basement battle at Brixham.
Something was always going to give in the meeting between the two bottom teams – and Brixham were favourites to come out on top after holding Chudleigh to 142 for nine.
Jon Martin gave Chudleigh some hope by nipping out Chris Lanyon lbw for six with the score on 17, but that was as good as it got for Chudleigh.
Andy Pugh (59no) and John Lamswood (47no) took Brixham the rest of the way to wrap up victory with more than 14 overs to spare.
Both teams remain in the bottom two, but Chudleigh are now 16 points adrift of safety while Brixham's margin to get out of the drop zone is half that.
Derek Perry top scored for Chudleigh with 38. Paul Horne's first team debut ended early when the former Dawlish & Teignmouth captain had his off-stump knocked back by Joe Hyde.
Farooq Iqbal showed Brixham what they were missing during his delayed arrival from Pakistan with four wickets for 18 runs.
PAIGNTON closed the gap on A Division leaders Braunton down to four points when they beat the early pacesetters by a whopping 115-run margin.
Seb Benton followed his 160 against South Devon in the previous match with 119 as Paignton advanced to 268 for seven at sun-drenched Kelsey.
Braunton were 77 without loss at one stage and at 133 for three even with Mark Lathwell (51) out were still in the game.
Losing the former Somerset and England star appeared to unsettle Braunton as they plunged headlong to 140 all out with 13 overs to go.
Aussie Matt Harival (31) made the only other score of note for Braunton before it all went wrong.
Paignton's destroyer in chief with four for 38 was Stephen George. He was aided and abetted by Mike Pedley (2-34) and Bhanuka De-Silva (2-52).
Benton was the main man when Paignton batted, not that he did it all on his own. He shared in two stands of 61 with Matt Turner (20) and Rob Shergold (15), then another of 74 with Simon Edwards (24) for the third wicket.
Getting Benton out only brought Mark Gilmour out and he plundered 52 before the overs ran out.
Braunton's bowling figures were not for the faint hearted. Jon Baglow had two for 96 and Andy Paddison's three wickets cost 83 runs.
SPINNER Steve Short produced a devastating second spell to point Abbotskerswell towards a 14-run win in the derby clash with Barton.
Abbots worked hard to make 177 for five against niggardly bowling by Barton, led by Aqeel Ahmed with four for 49.
Stand of the innings was one worth 61 for the third wicket between top scorer Mike Pugh – he batted through to make 60 not out – and Danny Full (38).
At 100 for five on the chase Barton appeared to have the game under control. Adam Parker (37) and Damon Calland (31) seemed to have set them up nicely despite the odd interruption from Marcus Green (2-52) and Richard Acton (2-10).
Andy McVeigh (32no) took on the anchorman role and steadily made inroads into the target.
Back came Short with a three-wicket burst that reduced Barton to 149 for nine. Short had three for 27 in his second bowl and four for 47 in the match.
Barton weren't finished yet though as McVeigh and last man Nathan Beech put on 14 more before occasional bowler Full claimed the final wicket in the penultimate over with the score on 163.