Tom Gooding - four wickets for Kilmington against Whimple

SIDMOUTH 2nd XI batsman Issac Thomas thumped a double hundred in the table-toppers whopping 294-run win over Budleigh Salterton II.

Sidmouth made 443 for one in the East Devon derby with Thomas (212no) leading them off.

Thomas shared opening stand of 229 with skipper Anthony Griffiths, who made 101.

When Griffiths got out Thomas joined by Robbie Powell, who reached 102 not out before the overs ran out.

“Issac had never scored a second team hundred before and when he finally got one he went monster,” said Griffiths.

Budleigh were bowled out for 149 in reply – Tom Oxland making 97.

In a bizarre finish to a bizarre game, Budleigh got to 149 for four then lost their last six wickets without scoring a run.

Daley Holmes (4-38) and Max Hancock (3-34) were the bowlers who did the damage.

Thomas now holds the C Division East record for the highest score. Thomas and Griffiths easily beat the old first-wicket record of 168. Sidmouth set a new C East record team total in the process.

Sidmouth’s 443 for one is the fourth highest in any of the leagues divisions since proper record keeping started in 1984.

Feniton will be hoping Thomas is promoted into Sidmouth’s 1st XI before Griffiths takes the team there this Saturday.

CALLUM Mitchell came up trumps for Braunton with a five-wicket burst in the nine-run win over Feniton at Kelsey.

Feniton seemed to be making sedate progress to victory chasing Braunton’s 231 for six when Callum Mitchell came back into the attack.

With seven overs to go Feniton were 189 for four and had batsmen Jack Tucker (18) and Alex Frankpitt (41) set and settled.

Matt Kingdon (47) and Jonny Pyle (35) had given Feniton a start, although Joe Barnes had made life hard for them with the ball.

Mitchell hadn’t had a lot of luck in his first spell – four over, no wickets, 21 runs – but skipper Dan Brierley felt it was worth giving him another go.

Mitchell delivered the goods for his skipper in the form of five wickets for 18 runs in 27 balls – and his haul included a hat-trick.

Tucker went first, caught by Jack Whittaker, then Mitchell bowled Brendon Knight and Jon French in successive balls.

Mark Kingdon and Andy Rose didn’t last long as Mitchell picked up the last couple of wickets to leave Feniton all out for 222.

Earlier, Jonny Baglow (69) and Mike Taylor (52) had got Braunton off to a 108-run start.

Martin Smith (47no) got Braunton going in the second half after they had slowed from 140 for one to 158 for four.

Losing skipper Pyle said said: “It was a cracking game of cricket that someone had to lose and it happened to be us. 

“I felt we bowled and fielded very well because, at one stage, I could see them [Braunton] chalking up a 260 or 270 score. 

“Once again our bowlers delivered in the middle overs.”

He continued: “We lost key wickets at what were the ‘wrong time’ in terms of our chase. 

“We were always ‘in the game’ and up with the required run rate, but just came up short. That said, I have to be pleased with the continued all-round performance from the players, all of whom, who are clearly giving it their best.

“We were well on track until the hat-trick which was a blow, but again, showed so much character to then pick ourselves up and get as close as we did.”

WHIMPLE skipper Ben Silk was left wondering what might have been after his side’s one-wicket defeat at Kilmington.

Silk felt the batters underperformed reaching a modest total of 188 all out – the skipper (49) and Matt Brown (30) moving things along from a wobbly 60 for four.

Tom Gooding (4-36) was Kilmington’s leading bowler, backed up by Ollie Reed (2-28).

Kilmington started brightly – they  were 128 for three thanks largely to Gooding (35) and Matt Pile (44) – then hit the down curve as wickets fell to Matt Richards and Neil Maud (2-33).

Skipper Brett Garner 27) got Kilmington most of the way there, but it was Rob Crabb and last man Tom Olive who polished off the final five runs needed.

Said Silk: “We figured our 188 was 50-60 shy of a decent score on the day.

“However, our bowlers gave us a real chance and, had we not spilled a couple of catches when they were eight wickets down and still needing runs, we’d have won.”

Kilmington skipper Brett Garner said: “My bowlers did a great job. When I lost the toss I feared we’d be chasing 240 plus, so to get them all back in the hutch with a sub 200 score it was a case of a job well done. 

“Then we got a good start in the run chase only to fall away and, at eight down, I feared the worst. 

“The crucial partnership was the one between Ollie [Read] and Robbie [Crabb], they batted well and got us close before Tom [Olive] helped Robbie see us home.”

ALPHINGTON’S early season worries seem to be a thing of the past after their four-run win at Ottery in a real nail-biting affair.

Alphington posted 216 all out – Mark Halse (43) and Exeter City manager Matt Taylor (68) the main run getters – and invited Ottery to see if they could do better.

Alex Clements (52), Jack Malden (30) and Jody Clements (46) got Ottery up to 203 for seven in reply. Then Tom Bath (4-47) had the latter Clements caught behind.

Will Harrison went after three balls to Mark Halse (2-36) which left last pair Joe Birch and Sam Brook (16no) a target of eight to win.

By the final over from Bath it was five to win. Bath bowled Birch first ball and that was game over.

Luke Phillips, the Alphington skipper, said: “That’s the wins on the bump now – and max points from each one.”

Alphington have an attractive derby date against Exeter II at the Chronicles this Saturday.