B DIVISION – WEEK FIVE
SKIPPER Guy Harrison-Roberts clubbed his second league half-century of the season as B Division leaders Abbotskerswell won by seven wickets at Ivybridge.
Ivybridge, who chose to bat first, struggled early on with Phil Stoneman (2-26) reducing them to 17-2 before Sean Green was introduced into the attack.
Green (5-85) took four wickets for 11 runs, reducing Ivybridge to 54 for seven with Gary Day (2-24) in support.
Ivybridge captain Derek Solomon (51) stood firm and helped by Brian Jarvis (18) and Peter Boast (24) put on 103 for the last three wickets, leaving Abbots demoralised after looking to bowl the Bridgers out for less than 157.
Abbots set off at a good pace with Harrison-Roberts and Andy Lock (14) putting on 58 for the first wicket.
Gareth Stuckey (2-40) into the attack slowed the scoring, but a partnership of 53 between Harrison-Roberts and predecessor Andy Rose (14) left Abbots well set at 111-2.
Day (30no) joined Harrison-Roberts (58no) to knock off the runs with five overs remaining and put Abbots eight points clear of chasers Alphington at the top of the table.
Alphington couldn't shift Tavistock's tail enders in the top of the table clash at the Ring and had to be contend with a winning draw.
Richard Coe was 71 not out in Alphington's total of 216 for three. Richard Cousins made 49.
John McGahey (92) and ex-Plymouth and Devon one-day player John Gosling (35) made it interesting for a while.
Alphington were more interested in Tom Bath's bowling as he took six for 43 to put them in command. The last pair blocked it out for a draw at 185 for nine.
Alphington stay second, but dropped five points on leaders Abbotskerswell, who cruised to a seven-wicket win over Ivybridge.
Clyst St George were a long way off the pace in their drawn game at Barnstaple.
Matt Clarke (51no) and veteran Rodney Bowden (40no) were Barum's prime number crunchers in a total of 167 for three. Oz Besley took two for 30.
Clyst were short of batting after losing Neil Anning for 32 and shut up shop early with Kevin Coe (27no) patting back for a draw.
Chudleigh's Ben Ripley must be wondering what he has to do to end up on the winning side after scoring a half-century and taking six wickets in the game against Brixham.
Ripley made 51 not out from 31 deliveries as Chudleigh upped the tempo in the dying overs to reach 211 for four.
Ripley then took five wickets as Brixham slumped from 131 for two to 201 for eight with two overs to go.
Brixham reached the last over from Ripley needing seven to win with two wickets in hand – one of which Ripley grabbed when he bowled Simon Caunter with two balls left and a target of two.
In a tense finish, Ripley bowled a wide which levelled the scores and last man Mike Barron crashed the next ball for four to win the game.
It was a cracking game of cricket which could have gone either way right to the end.
Jason Barnes top scored for Chudleigh with 85 compiled in 42 overs. Along the way he put on 67 with Neil Argyll (20).
Only Sean Dwyer with figures of one for 22 off 13 overs kept it tight for Brixham
Openers Dan Clark and Will Matthewman got Brixham off to a good start, putting on 49 until Clark was lbw to Ripley. Brixham were looking good at 131 for two off 32 overs.
Ian Coulton (21) and Mark Stockman (28) were both dismissed, then Matthewman was finally dismissed for a well made 59. Going into the last four overs the target was 16 to win and a grandstand finish was just around the corner.
Yelverton's veteran seam bowler Tony Carter made up for lost time by sending Bideford crashing to a 105-run defeat.
Carter hadn't take a wicket all season before turning up at Westward Ho! His haul of eight for 55 put the skids under Bideford, who were dismissed for 125 chasing 231 to win.
Five of Carter's Bideford victims were dismissed with the first ball of an over.
Six were either bowled or lbw.
Bideford skipper Darren Hart – stumped down the leg side off Carter – hung around to make 31. Darren Wilcocks made the top score of 45 and Matt Shephard hit 21 off 20 balls at the end
Super veteran Gerry Keen with an unbeaten 48 was Yelverton's top scorer. Richard West clipped 43 off 40 balls, Tom Watkins made 38 and Tim Rutherford hit 30.
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