ABBOTSKERSWELL moved within a point of leaders Alphington at the top of the table when they defeated Kingsbridge by 117 runs.
It has been a two-horse race for a while between Alphas and Abbots for the automatic promotion race and they are virtually neck and neck now.
Alphington visit Babbacombe this Saturday afternoon while Abbots are away to Chagford.
The decider is going to be the Two Mile Oak showdown between Abbots and Alphington a week on Saturday in the penultimate round of fixtures.
Alphington won’t need reminding they lost when the two sides met earlier in the season at the Chronicles.
Abbots raced to 273 for seven in their 45 overs – runs coming from all the people who should get them.
Charlie Mitchell (40) and Richard Harmer (73) got off to an 81-run start then Harmer and Alex Birt shoved another 69 in the book.
Birt and Harmer went on 150, but the Kingsbridge revival was short lived.
Brett Williams hit 43 and skipper Charlie Hill clogged 61 off 42 balls with nine fours and a six as the tally mounted.
Spinner Bhanu de Silva (3-46) had the best wicket return; Neal Peach (0-30 off 9) gave little away.
Kingsbridge were all out for 156 in reply – and skipper James Westlake mad 87 of them.
Elliot Bradbury (16) was the only other batsman with a double-figure score. The last six wickets went for just 19 runs.
Birt took four wickets; Connor Adams had two, as did Riccardo Small-Boyce, who ran out two more as well.
It was a strong performance against a good Kingsbridge team,” said winning skipper Hill.
“With three weeks left to go in what has been a tough season we need to take it one game at a time.
“We have a big game away at Chagford this week which we need to concentrate on first.
“Then we will see what position we are in going into the week after.
“The guys are really looking forward to the challenge coming in the next few weeks and I'm sure it will bring out the best in us.”
Kingsbridge will want to bounce back against Bridestowe this Saturday.
ALPHINGTON carried too much batting firepower for Chelston & Kingskerswell when the sides met at the Chronicles.
The table-topping Alphas held Chelston & Kingskerswell to 149 for nine then knocked off the runs with nearly 10 overs to go.
Victory leaves Alphington a point clear of second-placed Abbotskerswell with three games to go.
Only the champions go up automatically – the runners-up visit the play-offs – and who finishes top looks like being decided when Alphington visit Abbotskerswell on Saturday week.
They can’t afford to slip up this week though against Babbacombe, which could cost them the leadership of Abbots win at Chagford.
Chris Harrison (22) and Gary Brenton (24) made early runs for C&K then Nick Guest hit a top score of 32. Only one other batter got past 10.
Ben Newcombe took three for 42 and there were two wickets each for Ashley Green and Stuart Shaw – two for 10 off nine overs – but no one could shift C&K’s last man Russ Bennett for the last bowling point.
Mark Halse (44) and Al Davey (16) wiped of the first 63 runs then fell in successive overs. Nick Halse with an unbeaten 59 and Mark Porter (21no) put on 86 unbroken to win it.
NATHAN Hicks battered his fourth league ton of the season to point Stoke Gabriel towards a 103–run win at Chagford.
Hicks is on 887 runs for the season so far and with three games left could yet pass 1,000.
It’s just as well Hicks got a few against Chagford, as there wasn’t too much support
Jack Tolley contributed 47 to an opening stand of 89 with Hicks and Seb Ansley made 44 adding 91 for the third wicket.
Only Andy Ball made a double-figure score after that as Stoke were bowled out for 217 with more than 11 overs to go.
Six batters failed to make a run between them – and four of those were out first ball!
Veteran left-armer Del Lammonby (4-10) aided and abetted by Craig Penberthy (2-0) did most of the damage.
Chagford were all out for 113 in the 32nd over – no one making more than opener Chris Filor (21).
Wickets fell at regular intervals to Andy Ball, Ansley and Tolley, who had three each.
Stoke host Plymouth CS&R this Saturday.
BABBACOMBE slipped to a second straight defeat when they were 136-run losers at Plymouth CS&R.
Rob Gaylard was the man of the moment for Civil with an unbeaten 125 that formed the bulk of their 237 for four. Ben Wilkinson (42) and Dan Winsor (330 batted round Gaylard.
Iraq Thomas (2-32) and Paul Bates (1-32) had the cheapest nine-over spells.
Babbacombe were all out for 101 in the 29th over – Rob Walker (6-25) and Simon Light (4-20) sending them on their way.
Once Billy Alcock (24) and Thomas (24) were accounted for there wasn’t much to come.
BRIDESTOWE got back to winning ways with a comprehensive win at home to Whitchurch.
The hosts won the toss and bowled, with Fogerty (9-1-16-1) and Lavis (9-1-18-1) both picking up early wickets.
Second XI vice-captain Tim Shaw (9-4-18-3) was the pick of the bowlers, removing Charlie (1) and Billy (28) Barriball in quick succession.
Sam Ewen (6-1-20-2) and Alex Jopling (6.4-0-32-3) cleaned up the tail to leave Bridestowe needing just 106 to win.
Ewen (35) and Tom Fogerty (16) got the Bridestowe chase off to a rapid start, taking 30 runs from he first three overs.
Both fell short of the target as a tight spell from Rob Bone (4-0-11-2) slowed the inevitable.
Ryan Dennis (21no) and Tim Shaw (16no) saw Bridestowe home with six wickets and more than 25 overs remaining.
