BARTON were on the receiving end of a Johannes Wessels century as Lewdown cruised to a five-wicket win at Cricketfield Road.

Barton have been pottering along in mid-table all season while Lewdown have been up with the leaders for most of it.

One of the reasons Lewdown have done so well, but not the only one, is the impressive form of South African Wessels.

In nine trips to the crease this season for Lewdown, Wessels has scored five hundreds and two 50s in a total of 829 runs – average 118.43. No batsman in any division of the Devon League is within 200 runs of his aggregate.

Barton were all out for 217 on the 45^th of their 50 overs – Jody Seiffert making a top score of 57.

Barton reached 117 for five thanks largely to Scott Baldry (47) and Alex Hunt (20), then stepped n the gas with Seiffert and skipper Adam Parker notching 86 for the sixth wicket.

Parker, out for more than a month following leg surgery, was run out for 41.

The last five wickets fell for 14 runs once Parker went – his the first of three run outs in the late overs.

Wessels saw off the Barton new-ball bowlers Seiffert and Tom Porter, unlike Tallon Burns and Leon Horn, who were out for three and five respectively.

Wessels and Harry Geering (36) made a 77-run dent in the deficit, Billy Searle (14) and Wessels wiped off another 28 then came the terminal stand of 72 between the South African and Matt Witcher (18).

Lewdown won it with more than 11 overs to go to stay on station behind Bradninch at the top of the table.