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June 16, 2007

BIDEFORD missed out on a chance to go top in the C Division 2nd XI competition when they could only draw a game they dominated against Ivybridge.

   Will Barrett hit 79, Jack Hockin weighed in with 37 and Kevin Fishleigh was 50 not out in Bideford's total of 201 for four.

   Ivybridge could only muster 158 for six in reply having given up the chase a long way out.

   Plymouth, who were the leaders, lost to Yelverton, who are the new leaders after the two sides met at Mount Wise. Yelverton won by 42 runs.

   However, as third-placed Bideford visit Yelverton this Saturday the positions could easily change as only two points separate the top three. Plymouth (2nd) have a derby clash with Plymstock (4th).

   Asked to bat on a damp wicket at Mount Wise the Yelverton top order found runs hard to come by with only Scott Mclean (18) and Kevin Beare (19) making much headway. Imran Ashiq (4-18 off 13) was the best of the Plymouth bowlers.

   Imran was somewhat unlucky to only pick up four wickets as he moved the ball both ways and constantly caused the batsmen problems.

   Yelverton's stand-in skipper Chris Pearson, coming in at the fall of the sixth wicket, swung the bat and made a quickfire 30. With good support from Fraser Coleman (19) and Adrian Hood Yelverton were a creditable 146 for eight after their 46 overs.

   The Plymouth reply got off to a slow start due to some tight bowling from Dave Scott (1-15) and Hood (1-28). Hood, despite carrying a muscle strain in his side, bowled a frugal spell of 13 overs for only 28 runs.

   The introduction of Pearson into the attack made further inroads into the Plymouth batting line up as they slumped to 43 for five. Only Keith Barlow with 32 provided much resistance.

   Leg spinner Ben Vince (3-30) and off spinner Scott Mclean (1-14) turned the screw as Plymouth were reduced to 96 for nine.

   Pearson (4-15) completed a good day by returning to take the last wicket.

   Stoke Gabriel were frustrated by Plymstock's blocking tactics as their game fizzled out into a disappointing draw.

   Malcolm Coleman and Chris Samargis opened the Stoke innings briskly with 28 runs coming from the first five overs.

   John Mitchell slowed Stoke by dismissing Coleman with the score on 37. Jeff Baker joined Samargis to add 31 for the second wicket.

   Mitchell then took the wicket of Samargis, who scored a rapid 62, which included 10 4s and a six.

   Stoke kept the scoring rate going at for an over, but wickets kept tumbling. Steve Allen bowled his tidy off-spin to take four for 45 while   Mitchell only went for 29 runs from his 13 overs.

   Tim Nand-Lal, back after six weeks on the injury list, batted through until the last few overs for 47. He was ably supported by Tom Armstrong (20).

   Armstrong and Sam Hill get Stoke up to 183 for nine in their 46 overs.

   The Stoke pace attack of Adam Bonaddio (3-30) and Chris Samargis produced a brutal opening spell which restricted Plymstock to just 19 off their first 12 overs.

   A short rain interval juiced up the wicket and helped Bonaddio remove Jason Williams and Allen in the same over. Samargis got into act as Plymstock slipped to 55 for 4.

   Jack Nash (51) batted intelligently for Plymstock and pushed the score up to 119 before he was bowled by Armstrong (2-34). Four runs later, Armstrong struck again.

   Missed catches cost Stoke victory as Plymstock took the safety first route for the last nine overs to 141 for seven.