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C DIVISION – JUNE 9

IVYBRIDGE had Babbacombe on the ropes but couldn't finish them off in a game that ended in disappointing draw in more ways than one for Bridgers' skipper Andy Johnson.

   The Bridgers had Babbacombe holding on at nine wickets down having declared early to earn extras overs for a possible bowl out.

   As Johnson declared when he was on 97 not out with three overs to to, which would have been plenty of time to reach a century, it really wasn't his day!

   Johnson and Kevin Jacobs (73) hoisted 180 for Ivybridge's first wicket. With Karl Prescott making 23, and Babbacombe giving away 41 extras, Ivybridge finished up with 255 for three declared.

   Babbacombe were slow out of the blocks in reply – they took 15 overs to reach 32 for one – were 52 for two the stumbled as Mike Anderson (3-22) struck twice in one over.

   Paul Sutherland had been and gone for 31, Rob Bloxham had been in and out in a runnnt total of 86 for seven and that left Tom Ince to marshal the tail towards a draw.

   Ince made 51 and with Ian Sosnowski (22no) put on a match-saving 82 for the eighth wicket. Tim Stapleton saw out the final three overs with Sosnowski to earn the draw at 172 for nine.

   A devastating spell of bowling from seamer Shaun Needham sent Heathcoat tumbling to defeat and Cockington to the top of the C Division table.

   Heathcoat, top of the shop in the C Division on Saturday morning, must have fancied their chances of beating second-placed Cockington after holding them to 166 for seven in 46 overs,

   When Heathcoat were 91 for one in reply – Chris Parks (42) and Tom Frankpitt (27) among the runs – the odds were heavily stacked against Cockington, or so it seemed.

   Shaun Needham turned the game on its head by bagging six for 45 to put Heathcoat on the slide. Brother Peter had three for 23 as the former leaders slid to 143 all out.

   Shaun Needham had done a job with the bat as well for Cockington, making a top score of 38.

   Heathcoat bowlers Darren Drew (2-24), Peter Moysen (2-38) and Sean Dick (2-54) were largely on top though and at 115 for seven had Cockington becalmed.

   A partnership worth 51 between Neil Comerford (26no) and Scott Colegate (32no) proved crucial for Cockington, although they probably didn't realise it at the time.

   Stoke Gabriel moved into second place behind Cockington on the strength of their five-wicket win over struggling Dawlish & Teignmouth.

   Dawlish & Teignmouth have struggled for runs in recent matches, so the return of Karl Blackburn was well received and he responded by hitting a top score of 54. Roger Whittingham made 23 in a stand worth 57 for the third wicket with Blackburn.

   Nick Sandbrook (4-39) pipped skipper Sean Dwyer (3-44) and Dave Pruysers (2-38) for the bowing honours.

   Steve Tolley curbed his natural instincts to bat through for a patient 72 not out to set Stoke up for victory.

   Stoke were in danger of slipping behind the asking rate at one stage – Ward (2-28) and skipper Lockyer (2-9) yanking the brake on – but a quickfire 37 by Doug Ansley solved that problem.

   Ansley only faced 33 balls for his 37 and his stand of 58 with Tolley had the game won with 13 balls to spare.

   Feniton won for the first time this season when they thumped visiting Kingsbridge by 92 runs.

   Brian Cann put the messy on-off transfer affair with Honiton behind him to top score with 64 for Feniton in a total of 265 for five. Along the way there were stands of 86 with Dave Haysom (31) and 68 with Dave Carnall (34). Graham Tucker (34) and Stuart Bright (29) weighed in.

   Kingsbridge's only bowler of note was left-armer Rob Shorland with four for 71.

   Kingsbridge looked comfortable at 74 for one after 18 overs – Mark Stacey (39) and Steve Gledhill (28) making runs – but fell apart as Carnall (3-40) and Bright (3-16) started wheeling away.

   Steve Tall (29) was the only batter to survive long as Kings slowed to 149 for six on their way to 173 all out. Mark Kingdon wrapped things up at the end with two wickets in four balls.

   Clyst Hydon left Kilmington's batting in tatters as they handed out a 190-run whipping to the divisional new boys.

   Dean Read blazed way for 52 – he and Ian Sutton (44) made 82 for the second wicket – but that was just the start of Kilmington's problems.

   Clint Lewis (53no) and Kevin Sercombe (85no) clubbed 127 unbroken in the last 19 overs as the score climbed to 260 for four. James Kirkaldy had three Clyst wickets for 45 runs.

   Sri Lankan Dhanuja Nandana (3-18) and Will Gregg (4-14) quickly put the skids under Kilmington, who were dismissed for 79 on less than 25 overs.

   The writing was on the wall for Kilmington during the brief passage of play that saw four wickets lost for just five runs added.