IT’S nine out of nine now for Hatherleigh at the top of the A Division thanks to a five-wicket derby win over Lewdown.

Lewdown’s decision to bat first backfired badly as they were all out for 76 in 32.1 overs.

Opener Dave Ball made 31  he was fifth out at 50 – and Tom Pengelly had 17.

Of the rest no one made more than six. Four batters didn’t manage a run between them.,

Skipper and spinner Mark Lake had three Lewdown wickets for eight runs. Charlie Nielson, Matt Thomas and Sean Letheran bagged two each.

Knocking off the runs wasn’t a total formality for Hatherleigh, who had wobble after openers Thomas (19) and Danny Forrester (28) were dismissed.

Nick Smith (2-22) and Billy Searle (2-30) had a couple of wickets each as Hatherleigh dipped from 43 for none to 59 for five.

Nielson (12no) and Jack Cherrington (5no) ensured there were no more slips.

Hatherleigh are 30 points ahead of Sandford at the top of the table – and 60 up on Cornwood in third.

In a division with two promotion places there would be a stewards’ enquiry if Hatherleigh don’t fill one of them this season.

Confident skipper Lake said: “It has been a great achievement to win nine on the bounce.

“Now we are looking forward to the second half of the season and continuing the run.”

On the performance against Lewdown, Lake said: It was another comfortable win, although a few lose shots cost us an even more comfortable one.

“Once again we were good with the ball. With the exception of Dave Ball, the game would have been over a lot earlier than four o’clock.”

Harry Geering, Lewdown’s club captain, felt there were mitigating circumstances for his side.

“The wicket was bad for first hour, their openers bowled well and too many people played shots,” said Geering.

“We bowled very well and should have had them 59 for six, which would have given us a bit of hope. It didn't happen.

Had we scored 125 it would have made a game of it. But they just were better.”

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