HOWZAT for a cricket achievement! Kentisbeare’s young leg spinner Josh Farley performed two hat-tricks in the same match.
Josh, who is 14 and attends Uffculme School, struck in the D Division East game against Halberton.
His first hat-trick slowed Halberton’s chase as they were pursuing Kents’ total of 224 for eight.
Paul Tatterton had made 68 for Kents, Scott Chappell 43 and Steve Read 37.
Going into the last over Halberton needed 15 to win with four wickets left and Farley to bowl.
Farley performed the hat-trick again – and this time went one better by claiming four wickets in six balls.
Halberton finished 10 runs short of victory on 215 all out.
Chappell, the club chairman and a former captain, said: “Some players go an entire career without taking a hat-trick – Josh had two in one match.
“He is a fine prospect who plays for Devon U14s, although they see him mainly as a batsman.
“I suspect he will get more opportunities to bowl in county games now.”
Devon League record keeping tends to focus on hundreds scored and numbers of wickets taken, rather than oddities such as double hat-tricks.
The only known incidence of it happening before was in 2011 when Dartington & Totnes youngster Josh Thomas, who was 15 at the time took two hat-tricks in the space of 14 balls against Chelston.
Kents’ win over Halberton keeps them joint second in the table, level with Barnstaple & Pilton a point behind new leaders Chardstock.
BARNSTAPLE & Pilton lost for the first time this season when they slipped to a 52-run defeat at Honiton.
Defeat cost B&P top spot in the D Division East as Chardstock defeated Axminster to go past them.
It is desperately tight at the top though with just two points between the top four of Chardstock, B&P, Kentisbeare and Upottery.
All that could change this Saturday though as Barum are at home to Chardstock.
Honiton cracked along to 255 for two with all the top four making runs.
Openers Dave Haysom (48) and Tom Strawbridge (39) put in 72 then third-wicket pair Pete Matravers (76no) and Kevin Kelly (73no) made 142 unbroken.
With skipper Steve Moore sidelined due to a back injury, Barum were a bowler short and it showed in the stats.
Barnstaple & Pilton had problems keeping up with the clock as veteran Kiwi Phil Tansley (1-32) and Kelly (3-31) kept the batting under lock and key.
George McEndoo had 43 and Brady Saunders 35, but B&P needed something more to mount a chanse.
Losing Jason Smith and Tom Moody at 154 for five and 160 for six was the beginning of the end for B&P.
Mike Docherty (3-16) got into the lower order as B&P slowed to 203 for nine at the close.
TOPSHAM St James won for the first time in four starts when they beat Tiverton by 119 runs.
A fourth-wicket partnership of 92 between Mark Phillips (29) and Callum Treleaven helped St James reach 169 all out. Jack Lewis (26) chipped in.
Dane Williams (5-31) posed problems with the ball for Tiverton.
Edd Kirby (5-27) and Brian Jeary (5-18) bowled unchanged for 14.1 overs to dismiss Tiverton for 50.
Williams (15) and Fin Stoneman (11) had the only double-figure scores. Next best were a couple of fives and five batters didn’t get a run between them.
Topsham host Honiton this Saturday.
WOODBURY & Newton St Cyres are still looking for a first league win of the season following a 54-run defeat by Upottery.
Hopes were high in the home camp after Upottery were bowled out for 170 – Dave Church taking three for 39.
Woodbury were all for 116 in response. Opener Joe Banks made 30 but no one lent a hand until Rob Mann (12) went in at number eight – too late to make a difference.
The Pullmans – Ryan (3-26) and Andrew (3-25) did the damage with the ball.
It’s Kentisbeare away for Woodbury this Saturday.
