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B DIVISION

THE only B Division game played to a conclusion was at Bideford, where Plymouth Civil Service were the visitors.

   Civil came home with the best of a draw after inducing a middle-order collapse on Bideford which forced them to give up chasing 161 to win.

   Openers Mark Lockyer (30) and Andy Hawker (18) gave Civil a 49-run start before wickets started to tumble.

   Spinner Henry McEndoo (5-49) and Steve Moore (2-23) posed the problems as Civil dipped to 84 for five.

   Tom Cross (29no), aided and abetted by Jason Williams (19) got Civil up to 160 all out. Lee Cole (3-5) picked up cheap wickets at the end.

   Barnstaple got the first 50 out of the way comfortably, then lost opener Andy Barton (25) to Dave Bayliss (4-34) and started to slow,

   When Ross Burbidge (48) was fourth out at 98, Barnstaple wobbled a bit, but with Cole (16) hanging around they nibbled away at total to reach 130 for four. A double strike by Bayliss – two wickets for no runs – ended Barnstaple's interest in the chase.

   The home side blocked it out for the final couple of overs and weren't interested in making 12 to win off the last one, finishing on 153 for eight.

   Phil Bayliss backed up brother Dave by taking two for 25.

AXMINSTER skipper Danny Larcombe was disappointed when his side's game against Heathcoat was washed out at tea time.

   Tidy bowling from spin duo Gary Larcombe and Raul East has limited Heathcoat to 207 for five – a lesser target than looked likely when the Tiverton side were 170 for two with 15 overs to go.

   The compensation for Axminster is they picked up a couple of bowling bonus points to extend their lead by the same amount over Abbotskerswell at the top of the table.

   With Abbots to play this Saturday, every little helps!

   “ It's disappointing that the weather kicked in as it did because that was very much a score that we'd have fancied chasing down at Cloakham, where you can get on with it pretty quickly,” said skipper Larcombe.

   Heathcoat cracked on through Gary Bucknell (73) and Joe Smith (57), whose stand of 98 for the second wicket was the anchor point to the innings.

   Earlier, opener Bucknell and Chris Parks put on 62 before Parks went for 18 to a one-handed, diving catch clutched by Johnny Hurford.

   Sean Perry produced another dramatic catch to dispatch hard-hitting youngster Smith.

   “When   we got Smith out we were looking at a total of 250-260 to chase so we did well to keep them down to 207 in the end,” said Larcombe.

   “We were sharp in the outfield, some of the catching was awesome.”

   Having set some standards, Larcombe wants to see them maintained against Abbotskerswell, which has the makings if a key game even at this early stage of the season.

   “No disrespect to any of the other sides in the division,” said Larcombe, “but for me Abbotskerswell and Shobrooke Park are certain to feature at the business end so the next game will be a great indicator of what we might be able to expect this season.”