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D DIVISION – WEEK FIVE
IT was a batsman's paradise at Thorverton where home groundsman George Greed prepared a peach of a track that meant runs in the sun for the batsmen and lots of toil for the bowlers
More than 500 runs were scored in the game against previously unbeaten Hatherleigh for the loss of just five wickets!
Hatherleigh's Gareth Tidball, back at his home club after a season in the A Division with Tavistock, was in fine form top scoring with 126.
Terry Reynolds limped from the middle a run shy of what would have been a fine half-century and the other visiting runs came from Sean Forrester (20) and Andy Bennett (20).
The home side sailed to victory, closing the game out with eight wickets and almost 10 overs to spare led once again by a superb century from Kobi Griggs, who was still there at the end unbeaten on 121.
Groundsman Greed played his part with a good 64 whilst the only other home batsman to lose his wicket was Alistair Fury for 26.
The other not out batsman when the eight-wicket win was sealed was Gareth Hess (21no).
Thors' skipper James Meredith said: “Speaking as a bowler, it was hard work out there.
“The new ball swung for a couple of overs but thereafter it was a peach of a track to bat on.
“Given that George (Greed) is a batsman I guess it is no surprise that he prepares such a superb surface for the batsmen to play on!
“It's a fine win for us given that it has come at the expense of one of the sides you would expect to be there or thereabouts when we reach the closing stages of the campaign.”
KILMINGTON would never have envisaged, after dropping out of C Division at the end of last season, that they would get through the first month's fixtures at the lower level and still be without a first victory of the season.
Yet that is precisely how they find themselves five games into the campaign after going down by seven wickets to visiting Ipplepen.
Kilmington batted as well as they have this term, taking maximum batting points with 224-nine.
They were in a spot of trouble with half the side out and only 86 on the board when former Axminster player Danny Larcombe joined Ralph Cook in the middle. The pair steadied the ship to allow it to sail past the fifth batting point.
Larcombe was out shortly before tea with 73, Cook remained unbeaten to the interval with 60 and Wynn Willmott chipped in with 21.
Ipplepen skipper Keith Wakeham was the most successful bowler with three for 74.
With the wicket playing so well the visiting batsmen found batting to their liking and they cruised victory with a full three overs, and seven wickets to spare. In-form batsman Tom Cooper (68) and youngster Luke Tuckett (47) did the damage with the bat.
Three defeats in five outings is a statistic not lost on Kilmington skipper Tom Gooding who says: “We really do need to find that winning habit, and quickly.
“We have not started well but there's plenty of the season left to kick-start the campaign and I am sure that that a first win will bring an up-turn in our fortunes.
UPLYME came off second best when they they lost to previously winless Whitchurch by 89 runs.
Whitchurch batted first and bagged maximum batting points with 217-8.
Aaron Churchill (90) and Shaun Daymond (67) put on 153 for the third wicket in the most significant stand of the Whitchurch innings.
Home skipper Ashley Caddy and Steve Batey both bagged braces of wickets.
In the reply only Mark Brimmacombe with a fine 50 was able to make much headway into some solid visiting bowling as the home side were eventually bundled out for 134.
Joel Heatley claimed three for 17 and there were two wickets each for Steve Lavis and Daymind in the 34 overs needed to dismiss Uplyme.
OTTERY St Mary were involved in a thrilling finish at Yelveton where the result was in the balance until the final ball.
The hosts had posted a healthy 221-9 led by Terry Stevens (40), Jez Stokes (34) and Paul James (29).
Rob Johns (3-42) and Mark Woodman (2-47) were the main wicket takers for Ottery who, with 13 overs to go, were on 161-6.
With all results possible right up until the final delivery, the game ultimately ended in a draw as the visitors closed on 205 with their last pair at the crease.
John Tierney hit 51 and Steve Forbes (30) as the Otters made their victory bid.
Former captain Rob Guy was the pick of the home bowlers with 3-34.
BOTTOM club Babbacombe came off second best when they ran into unbeaten D Division leaders Lewdown at Walls Hill.
A mature stand of 75 between Tom Drake and Stevie Cocker put us in a strong position.
At 135 for four with Andy Lockyer and Drake going well and 15 overs to go, a score of 200 plus looked on.
Babbacombe were pegged back by Charlie Hughes (3-4) and Phil Yeo (4-48), but their total of 184 looked defendable to skipper Paul Bates.
Bates had to revise his ideas after Justin Gliddon (69no) and Ed Squire (52no) followed up the groundwork done by Kris Harris (36) to land Lewdown with an eight-wicket win.
“We battled hard in the field but the luck just didn't seem on our side,” said Bates.
“Lots of ariel shots just evaded fielders and some close decisions went in favour of the batters.
“There are lots of positives though. We are not getting thumped but just can't seem to put sides away when we get into strong positions.
“This is a strong division with a lot of good young sides, we just need a confidence=-building win to get us going.”
Coming next for Babbacombe is a local appointment with Ipplepen, who won by seven wickets at Kilmington.
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