HATHERLEIGH made it four wins on the trot at the top of the A Division – and only one dropped point along the way – when they won by 144 runs at Budleigh Salterton.
Previously in-form Kiwi Matt Thomas may have missed out, he was bowled by Lloyd Murrin in the second over, but the rest of the top five all made runs in a Hatherleigh total of 257 for nine.
Budleigh batted in fits and starts –Ben Phillps (37) had the best of a modest set of scores – and they were bowled out for 113 with more than 11 overs to go.
Hatherleigh (79pts) and Sandford (72), both unbeaten, are starting to pull away at the top of the table from Chudleigh (50) who are the best of the rest.
The two front runners two weeks away from a Creedy Park showdown when someone’s record will be dented, assuming it isn’t this weekend.
Star man with the bat for Hatherleigh was Gareth Tidball, who top scored with 93.
Tidball went in at three for one and came out at 195 for four having put on 68 with Dan Forrester (33), 74 with Rob Cockwill (23) and 50 with Rob Fishleigh (37).
Budleigh skipper Trevor Anning, wicketless in his first spell, had a second at the end and picked up four victims for final figures of four for 33.
Phillips went in for Budleigh at two for two in the fourth over and repaired some of the damage with Eliot Rice (14) and Anning (11).
Hatherleigh skipper Mark Lake made regular bowling changes and the ploy worked as Budleigh’s batters seemed unable to settle.
Alex Richardson (21) and Lloyd Murrin (19) made limited headway but the game had got away by then.
Thomas (3-12) got into the middle and lower order, finishing the job started by Sean Letheren (2-120 and Mitch Proffit (2-21).
Budleigh were tipped pre-season as promotion material after finishing third three seasons running.
Although the Seasiders haven’t quite lived up to expectations so far, beating them was a statement of intent by Hatherleigh.
Skipper Lake said: “We out played them in all departments – it was a great performance.
“As a team built partnerships led by Gareth Tidball.
“In the field we never gave them a sniff and were clinical in everything we did.”
