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B DIVISION - JUNE 9

A SIX-wicket haul for Dave Bayliss on his comeback after injury wasn't quite enough to give Plymouth Civil Service victory in a low-scoring game against Brixham at Beacon Down.

   It was a case of so near yet so far for Civil as they came within a whisker of beating Brixham despite being bowled out first for 115.

   Brixham lost their ninth wicket at 104 – Bayliss having sparked a collapse from 81 for three that saw seven wickets fall for 19 runs – and scraped home by one wicket with last man Joe Hyde (14no) still there with George Northcott (28no).

   Bayliss finished with six for 37, which suggests he is over the worst of the shoulder injury that has kept him out of action for the first five weeks of the season.

   As Civil are hovering just over the second relegation place, skipper James Carr will be delighted to have last season's leading wicket taker back in harness.

   Earlier, Brixham captain Andy Pugh had made a top score of 40 prior to Bayliss coming into the attack.

   The other Bayliss – Dave's brother Phil – had led the way with the bat with 30 of Civil's not-so-grand total of 115 all out. From 40 for five, 115 all out wasn't such a bad total.

   Pakistani spinner Aqeel Ahmed shot out five Civil batters for 23 runs while Mark Orchard had three more for 20.

   Plymstock's middle-order batting performed a vanishing act at Axminster which contributed to a 79-run defeat.

   Gary Larcombe fired a top score of 82 in an Axminster total of 233 for six and was involved in stands of 68 with Rob Prior and 83 with Joel Seward along the way. Prior hit 64 and Seaward batted through for 39 not out.

   Mike Cherry (2-52) and Denzil Addicott (2-60) were the most effective of the Plymstock bowlers. Dave Orchard won't have been ha-ppy going for 61 in his 10 overs.

   Plymstock looked well placed at 58 for one with Nick Langridge (46) going well, then collapsed to 75 for five and kept on going to 87 for eight as Nick Taylor (4-55) and Larcombe (3-29) got stuck in.

   Tail ender Mike Cherry dug in to make 34 and stuck around with Paul Williams (38) in a desperate attempt to save the game. But there was too long to go and with 60 added the partnership was broken and one run later Plymstock were all out for 154.

   Alphington stay at the top of the B Division table even though they could only draw with Clyst St George.

   Although second-placed Brixham won at Plymouth Civil Service they lost bonus points getting there. Barnstaple & Pilton in third place ended up having a dull draw with visiting Seaton and are three points further behind now.

   Alphington all-rounder Steve Bowen celebrated his inclusion in the Devon Overseas XI to face Somerset at Seaton next week by hitting a top score of 55 in a total of 230 for seven.

   There were runs all down the order from Paul James (54) – he put on 65 with Bowen – Ian Haley (26) and Ian McDonald (40).

   Ollie Witton's two for 53 was the best spell among the Clyst bowlers according to the Alphington batsmen. Pete Weatherhead (2-48) and Chris Cook (3-39) had better figures on paper though.

   Clyst, serious depleted due to drop outs, were hanging on for a draw at 191 for seven when their 46 overs expired.

   Bowen (2-20), James (2-39) and Andy Wilson (2-52) all bowled tidily in turn as Clyst laboured to 91 for six.

   Chris Cook, who took a blow from Steve Hathaway when batting, retired hurt briefly then returned when it was clear the side needed him. He didn't disappoint.

   Cook batted out the rest of the match to see Clyst to a draw at 191 for seven. Will Bower made 24.

    Former Braunton captain and Devon all-rounder Steve Moore had a say with bat and ball in a Barnstaple's draw with Seaton at Raleigh Meadow.

   Moore hit a valuable 55 not out to haul Barnstaple out of trouble after they had been 52 for five after 19 overs. Steve Wheatley weighed in with 26 towards a Barum score of 193 for nine.

   Aaron Quatermaine (4-50) and Ben Morgan were the bowlers who did the damage for Seaton.

   More made his name in the Premier Division almost 20 years ago as a containing bowler and did exactly that to kill Seaton's run chase stone dead.

   Moore's 13 overs yielded figures of one for 27 as Seaton crawled to 97 for three after 30 overs. With Raul East (32) and Steve Pritchard (28) in and out, Seaton seemed to content to meander to a draw.

   Marc Jenkins (28) and Dave Field (30) made the draw a certainty despite a couple of late wickets falling to Nick Dartnoll (2-37) in a total of 141 for six.