Back

PREMIER 2nd XI

SIDMOUTH used a favour from the weather to close the gap on leaders Exeter to four points at the top of the Premier Division 2 nd XI table.

   While Exeter were being rained off in a winning position against Plymouth at the County Ground, Sidmouth were cruising to a three-wicket win over North Devon.

   North Devon did well to scrape up 105 for six on the Fortfield as they they had been 32 for five.

    The rescue act was carried out by identical twins Craig (41) and Jamie Overton (19) who got something remotely defendable on the board.

   Mark Jasper (3-29) and Miles Dalton (2-26) had the bulk of the wickets to fall.

   Sidmouth needed just 21 runs to knock off the runs and were never seriously challenged while they did it.

   Skipper Saj Patidar (25) and James Macey (61) put on 56 to end the game as a contest before the weather could intervene. Tim Cook took two for 18 for North Devon.

   Exeter's total of 144 all out against Plymouth wasn't a great one, but it looked like being more than ample when the visitors were 108 for eight.

   Veteran spinner Martin Gill had a field day for Plymouth with six for 22 as Exeter crumbled after the loss of Rob Wass for 43. Christian Bostock, James Parkin and James Tuck all got into the 20s then got out.

   Plymouth looked good at 44 for two, looked wobbly at 65 for six and were looking for the draw when it rained.

   Tom Hughes (25no) saved the day for Plymouth, who got into trouble against Dan Poulson (4-32), Bostock (2-11) and Tom Putney (2-9).

   Sandford suffered a 122-run pounding when they crossed swords with defending champions Plympton at Creedy Park.

   Plympton's batting effort was solid rather than spectacular with Christian Bunney (31), Dave Walter (28), Duncan Hefford (31) and Jamie Pfeiffer (27no) all contributing to a total of 222 for six.

   Richard Coupe (3-58) was the only Sandford bowler with wickets worth talking about.

   Sandford were skittled out for 100 in reply and lost the game with six overs to go. They had been 70 for five. Jason Matten (27) and Ryan Glass (24) were the only batters to resist long against Tom Howarth (5-19) and Danny Hawker (4-20).

   Budleigh Salterton bounced back from their defeat by Exeter with a runaway nine-wicket win over South Devon.

   South Devon worked hard to get the ground playable, but had to bat first which was always going to favour Budleigh.

   Lewis Baker marked his seasonal bow with six wickets for 32 runs as Budleigh dismissed South Devon for 12.

   South Devon were 68 for one with 20 overs to go – Matt Blackmore (37) and Adrian Hewings (19) making most of them – but a change of bowling removed both of them and Baker did the rest.

   The only bright spot for South Devon was a crash-bang-wallop 24 off 13 balls   by Ian Shepherd, which included 20 in one over from Lloyd White.

   Rob Newing (41) and Neil Murrin (49no) got Budleigh off to an 82-run start and there was no turning back for South Devon.

   Jamie Burton joined Murrin to knock of the final few runs.

   Delighted Budleigh skipper Ian Taylor said: “We started well, something we have struggled to do this season.

   “Winning the toss helped, but you still have to put the ball in the right areas.

   “Having Lewis back makes a great difference to our team, we now have three excellent seam bowlers in Chris Horn, Lewis and Lloyd Murrin.”

  

  

  

.