B DIVISION 2nd XI – June 2
BRIXHAM pulled off an unexpected win by 36 runs at Braunton where their prospects had looked bleak after being dismissed for 110.
Brixham recovered from 52 for four, Wes Fowler (20) and Sam Thomas (16) adding 40 for the fifth wicket before Thomas was caught by Wayne Manning off the bowling of Jodie Abbot (1-12).
Charlie Langdon then dismissed the remaining batsmen as Brixham collapsed from 92 for five after 31 overs, to 110 all out in the next 40 balls. Langdon finished with seven for 26.
On a wicket best described as ‘bowler friendly', Braunton collapsed from 44 for four after 27 overs to 74 all out. Lee Upham (5-20) and skipper Geoff Newman (3-18) did most of the damage.
Manning (19) and Ollie Seymour (12) were the only Braunton batsmen to reach double figures.
CLYST St George were left hanging on for a draw at Chudleigh after losing their way chasing 169 to win.
Chudleigh's total of 168 for eight owed a lot to Clyst's wayward bowling as it included 49 extras. Only Wil Sprenkel (20) and Ben Ripley (28no) got past the teens.
Clyst shared the wickets around with Nathan Hardy and Paul Laverick bagging identical figures of two for 26.
Opening bowler Sprenkel (3-23) and Dave Williams reduced Clyst to 30 for four after 19 overs before Laverick (43no) and Steve Middleton (27) stopped the slide.
After Ben Ripley (2-25) broke through for the fifth wicket, Laverick shut up shop.
Despite a late burst by Rob Clarke (2-11) Clyst clung on at 136 for eight.
BRADNINCH stand proudly on top of the B Division and can also claim to being the side in any division of the Devon League with the highest number or points.
Five games into the season Bradninch are on 98 out of 100 and looking likely to steam through the division to their third successive promotion.
Saturday's eight-wicket win over Plymouth Civil Service was set up for Bradninch by two of their newer recruits, Laldon Bhatti and Lucas Fencl – one a Pakistani, the other from the Czech Republic.
Civil batted first and were bowled out for 160 with Bhatti claiming three wickets for four runs. Bhatti (41) and Lucas Fencl (45no) helped their side to a comfortable win.
Fencl was born in Prague and has his sporting roots in baseball.
Bradninch secretary Chris Dean said Fencl's grounding on the baseball diamond was serving him well on the cricket pitch.
“He certainly knows how to hit the ball,” said Dean. “He played baseball to a decent standard and has taken to cricket like a duck to water.
“It is something of a curious mix, one all rounder from Pakistan and a team mate from the Czech Republic, but the two have fitted into the team ever so well and are both enjoying their cricket no end.”
ALPHINGTON new boy Matt Barnes hit a maiden league century in the drawn game with Tavistock at the Chronicles.
Barnes made 109 in Alphington's total of 197 for four – then claimed three wickets as Tavistock struggled in reply.
Andy Mills (3-34) was also among the wickets, but with John McGahey making 67 and Steve johns 33, Tavvy held on for a draw at 155 for eight.
HATHERLEIGH kept Bradninch in sight at the top of the B Division table when they won by nine wickets at Barnstaple & Pilton.
Rodney Bowden top scored with 57 in the Barnstaple total of 148 for seven, Carl Downes claimed three for 42 with his medium pacers and there were also single wickets for Richard Tidball, Andrew Fishleigh and James Stacey.
After a century opening stand between Graham Bryant (45) and Tm Rogers (83no), Hatherleigh strolled past the winning line, Henry Bedford being the other not out batsman at the close.