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Bovey Tracey v South Devon

SOUTH Devon's bowlers were flogged all round the Recreation Ground as Bovey Tracey batsmen Andy Kingdon and Chris Bradley took them for unbeaten centuries.

   South Devon could have been excused for thinking they had done the hard bit after reducing Bovey to 69 for four – then Bradley and Kingdon paired up.

   Kingdon, a late signing from Paignton on the eve of the season, smashed 14 fours on his way to an unbeaten 107.

   Skipper Bradley thumped 17 fours and three sixes as he slammed a personal league best of 130 not out.

   The stand between them for the fourth wicket was worth 235 and shattered a record that had stood for a decade. The previous best of 188 was made by Neil Hancock and Geoff Woods for Buckfastleigh against Plymouth CS.

   Rizwan Saeed (2-77) had early wickets and late tap while Chris Metters (1-39 off nine) can feel his figures stood up pretty well under the circumstances.

   Mike Smith (0-88 off 12) and Phil Blackmore (0-50 off 7) will prefer to draw a line under their figures.

   Bovey might ask themselves if they batted on too long as South Devon were 228 for eight when their 50 overs ran out.

   South Devon had a good go at getting the runs with Saeed (58) and Dax Oliver (41) hoisting 87 for the third wicket and Blackmore (39) and Metters (36) making 50 for the fifth.

   Metters and Saeed both scored at faster than run-a-ball rate. Once Blackmore went the run rate slowed.

   Bradley tried seven bowlers to winkle South Devon out, but to no avail as they held on to close on 228 for eight.

   

Shobrooke Park v Abbotskerswell

ABBOTSKERSWELL'S new captain Marcus Green had a pretty good idea where it all went wrong at Shobrooke Park – too many catches were put down.

   Shobrooke marked their return to the A Division after a 12-month absence with a six-wicket win over Abbotskerswell.

   But it should never have been, according to Green, who said: “If we had held our catches we would have won easily.

   “What's that old saying again? Catches win matches….”

   Matt Bamber – 37 wickets in Shobrooke's promotion-winning side – picked up where he left off with four for 24 as Abbots collapsed to 155 all out. There were two wickets each for John Sweeney, Phil Anning and Aussie new boy Brian Randall.

   Abbots got a start through their Aussie James Brown (43) and skipper Marcus Green (45), but the rest of the batting was a huge let down.

   It was all routine for Shobrook after Rob Newall (50) had got them up to 82 for two long before the halfway stage.

   New skipper Andy Codling hit an unbeaten 47 as Shobrooke cruised to all 20 points.

Tavistock v Sidmouth

  

SIDMOUTH opened up with a 20-point maximum at Tavistock – and did it without a major contribution from new professional Neil Hancock.

   Skipper Will Murray spelled out in this pre-season briefing that Sidmouth won't get promoted on Hancock's efforts alone and will have been privately pleased his team took on board what he said.

   Tavistock were bowled out for 197 largely by overseas newcomer Matt Jasper, who had five for 38 on his league debut. Murray and Hancock had two wickets each – and there was an impressive run out by Jack Pyne.

   Veteran Steve Luffman top scored for Tavistock with 56. Dave Manning (42) and Steve Nicholson (37) were the best of the rest.

   Bynlee Barross removed dangerman Hancock for five – that was his wicket in figures of one for 65 – but Sidmouth managed more than adequately without his contribution.

   A consistent batting effort was   led by Josh Bess (39) aided and abetted by Anthony Griffiths (38), Nick Gingell (33) and Pyne (36).

   Spinner Stuart Cleave (3-28) was the pick of the Tavistock bowlers.

 

Bradninch v Cornwood

ELIOT Acton and Joe Webb both hit half-centuries as Bradninch coasted to a four-wicket win over visiting Cornwood.

   Martyn Cooksley (25) and Kevin Willcock (28) gave Cornwood a 50-run start then Mohammad Salman and Ben Warren (25) pushed the score along to 181 for five.

   Salman kept going to reach 70, but ran out of support as Cornwood slowed to 228 for nine.

   Paul Nott (3-42) and skipper Joel Murphy (3-49) led the Bradninch bowling effort.

   Acton (52) and Webb (52) laid the foundations for the chase in a stand of 87. Tim Piper (14) and Zimbabwean Ryan Butterworth (40) added another 55, Dan Hardy chipped in with 23 and it was left to Murphy (16) and Gary Newall (4) to wrap things up with four overs to spare.

   Cornwood shared the wickets around with Andy Bees and Matt Butterworth (corr) taking two each.

 

Plymouth v Braunton

CHRIS Barr and David Burke both slammed half-centuries as Plymouth celebrated their return to the A Division with a confident seven-wicket win over Braunton.

   Last season's A Division champions picked up where they left off by dismissing Braunton for a modest 152.

   Former Somerset and England batsman Mark Lathwell top scored for Braunton with 55 not out, but lacked company for long after Andy Paddison (39) was dispatched.

   Having been 101 for four then 136 for five, Braunton lost their last five wickets for just 19 runs as Sri Lankan one-day cap Hansantha Fernando (3-18) got to work.

   Barr had three for 18 and there were two wickets each for Burke and veteran spinner Colin Gill.

   Barr (78no) and James Nicholls (12) pointed Plymouth in the right direction, but from 47 without loss they dipped to 56 for three with Colin Hack (3-37) taking all the wickets to fall.

   Among Hack's victims was Fernando, who was trapped lbw for nine.

   Barr and Burke put Plymouth back on an even keel and their stand of 94 saw the city side to victory with 10 overs to spare.

   Barr was 78 not   out off 113 balls, with 13 fours and a six, while Burke was unbeaten on exactly 50.