CHARLIE Mitchell’s run-stuffed summer continued with 67 more as Abbotskerswell thrashed Whitchurch by 118 runs.

It’s a two horse race in the C Division West with Abbots and Alphington neck and neck at the top.

Abbots gained a couple of points on Alphington in the latest round of fixtures as the city side were unable to bowl out Plmouth CS&R for maximum bonus points.

Mitchell top scored with 67 off 63 balls for Abbots in their 45-over total of 236 for nine.

Mitchell put on 80 for the first wicket with Rchard Harmer, then passed the baton to Alex Birt (20) and Brett Williams (32).

Mitchell has now made 659 league runs with one century – it was against Whitchurch in the first meeting between them – and eight 50s.

Runs down the order from Charlie Hill (28) and Noah Tobias (23) kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Billy Barriball (3-45) took wickets for Whitchurch while Dan Poole 1-25 off 9) kept it tight.

Whitchurch were all out for 118 in reply – Poole top scoring on 29.

There were three wickets each for Riccardo Small-Boyce (3-39) and Connor Adams (3-26) with Tom Heath (2-17) picking up a couple.

 “We did most things right with bat and ball, which meant we came out on top in a comfortable win,” said skipper Hill.

“It was nice to get full points after missing out in the last two games.

“Whitchurch they didn't make it easy for us, they made us work to get the last few wickets but our bowlers brought it home in the end.”

Abbots host Kingsbridge this Saturday looking to make up the two-point gap on the leaders.

TIM Goodwin’s five-wicket haul wasn’t enough to get Babbacombe off the hook after they were bowled out for 83 by Chagford.

Babbacombe collapsed from 72 for four to 83 all out in the face of lively bowling from Chagford captain Derek Lammonby (5-21).

Craig Penberthy (3-10) had done the early damage by dismissing Jack Brothwell (15), Seb Loram (12) and Mike Pugh.

Matt Inch (17) had the best of a sorry set of scores.

Chagford found runs almost as hard to come by as they a wobbly 51 for five with Will Lammonby (16) just out to Goodwin.

Penberthy (21no) saw Chagford home in the 22nd over.

Babbacombe, stuck in mid-table this season, are away to lowly Plymouth CS&R this Saturday.

Chagford, up to fourth, are at home to St Gabriel.

CHELSTON & Kingskerswell have themselves a flickering chance of dodging the drop when they beat Bridestowe by 35 runs at Torre Valley North.

Mark Faulkner’s men have been bottom of the table since week one and had only won once prior to last Saturday.

Beating Bridestowe, who have had a shocking second half of the season, coupled with favourable results elsewhere, mean C&K aren’t out of it yet.

With 80 points to play for – starting with 20 up for grabs against leaders Alphington this Saturday – the 25 points between C&K and safety is achievable.

It looks a long shot, but stranger things have been known in the last month of the season. Watch this space…

Lachlan Willaton’s run of form continued with 96 not out in Chelston’s tally of 200 for three

Willaton has made 258 of his 369 league runs this term in the last four games.

Mike Etherington (58) was Willaton’s partner in a stand of 149 for the third wicket.

Veteran Mark Fogerty – he played Devon Schools way cricket back in 1975 – opened up and scored for Bridestowe with 28.

James Ewen made 29 and with Charlie Ewen (25) and Alex Jopling (24) chipping in the visitors were well placed at 119 for four.

Paul Harding (4-29) got into the middle order and Bridestowe were finished off by Pat Duke (2-39) and Josh Hurrell (3-19) as their last four wickets went for 12 runs.

STOKE Gabriel remain on course for a top-four finish after beating Kingsbridge by 34 runs in the South Hams derby.,

Nathan Hicks took his tally for the league season to 780 runs with 69 in a total of 223 all out.

Hicks was third out at 150 having put on 107 for the first wicket with Jack Tolley (43).

Seb Ansley was next best on 48, which took Stoke to 198 for six.

Andy Ball, Rob Perry and Jake Robinson all chipped in with bits and pieces.

Wicket-taking was shared round with four for Will Pike and two each for James Rosewarne and Elliot Bradbury.

Youngster Freddie Ford – one of the U15s at the Butts – opened up and kept going until the score reached 142 for six when he was out for 51.

Matt Grose made 30 and Bradbury 37, but there were too many single-figure scores to get Kingsbridge over the line.

Tolley’s four for 32 and four more for 54 by Jake Robinson had something to do with it too.

“Stoke out batted and out bowled us and were deserved winners,” said Kingsbridge captain James Westlake.

“Freddie Ford batted brilliantly for us in an innings that never got going.”

Stoke are away to Chagford this Saturday, Kingsbridge visit Abbotkerswell.

ALPHINGTON battered Plymouth CS&R into submission by racking up 336 for five – which was just as well according to skipper Stuart Shaw.

An stand of 157 between Mark Hulse and Mark Porter pointed Alphington in the right direction.

Hulse finally went for 124 while Porter batted on for an unbeaten 82.

Civil were 245 for five when their time ran out – Dan Winsor making 93 not out.

Skipper Stuart Shaw (2-34) and Porter (2-31) were the pick of the Alphington bowlers.

Alphington didn’t bowl Civil out, which cost them three points of their lead over Abbots at the top of the table, but Shaw could live with that.

“We were quite a few light in the bowling department so bowling them out was always going to be hard,” said Shaw.

“Coming away with the win was the main thing and we achieved that.”

Alphington are at home to bottom side Chelston this Saturday.