Sidmouth skipper Anthony Griffiths - can't see Kilmington being caught at the top

KILMINGTON defeated long-time leaders Sidmouth 2nd XI by eight wickets to install themselves at the top of the C Division East.

Sidmouth were bowled out for 104 in a 32-over game, a target Kilmington knocked off before the end of the 11th over.

Kilmington have gone 12 points clear of Sidmouth at the top of the table, which in a division with only one promotion place is significant.

The only way Sidmouth will get up now is if they win their last three games and Kilmigton lose at least one – and drop points in some of the others.

Brett Garner, the Kilmington captain, said: “It’s our title to lose now and I’d like to think that the hunger remains for us to not let this opportunity slip.

Anthony Griffiths, the Sidmouth captain, agreed, saying: Kilmington will win the division as I don’ see Exeter or Whimple being able to stop them.

“We will try to finish as high as we can. It has been a very enjoyable campaign playing some great cricket against good sides.”

Opener Elliot Rice top-scored for Sidmouth with 31. Next best were Cameron Grainger-Evans (13) and Daley Holmes (11).

There were two wickets each for Josh Short (2-9), Rob Crabb (2-20) and Tom Olive (2-17) – and two run-outs.

Kilmington run machine Tom Gooding – 915 in the league at an average of 91.5 – missed out for once. Short’s 66 not out saw Kilmington home.

Short did not hang about. His 66 came off 24 balls and included 64 in boundaries!

“Josh hit the ball as hard as I have seen anyone hit it,” said Killy skipper Garner.

 “He was like a man possessed and clearly seemed intent on getting the game finished as quickly as possible.”

Kilmington go to Exeter this Saturday, Sidmouth have a derby clash against Griffiths’ former club Ottery St Mary.

HOW many more last-gasp finishes are Braunton going to be involved in this season after yet another edge-of-the-seat finale?

Braunton and Alphington fought out a tie at Kelsey last time out in a game that went down to the last ball.

Alphington needed three to win, but could only scramble through for two. Match tied.

It is the fifth time this season Braunton have been involved in last-over nail-biters – and the first time they have not won.

Dan Brierley, the Braunton captain, said the sides agreed on a 20-over thrash after a long delay due to rain and had to get stuck in.

“Considering we were 16 for three and later in the innings Mark Halse (4-5) took three wickets in an over, we did well to get to 128 for eight,” said Brierley.

Ian Roberts top scored on 35 and put on 60 for the sixth wicket with Brierley (30).

Alphington lost Halse and Luke Phillips before reaching double figures, but Nick Halse (27) and D J van Vuuren (57) got the chase up and running with a stand of 72,

Tom Nightingale (21no) was at one and Ben Newcombe the other when the final over started.

Alphington needed eight to win from the final over bowled by Mike Brown, but fell one short.

“It was the only over he bowled and a quality one as you would have backed them to come out swinging and hope for the best,” said Brierley, whose side has previous for this sort of behaviour.

Exeter were beaten with one ball to spare when the sides met on the County Ground back in May.

Braunton had two balls left when they beat Whimple and three in a win over Feniton.

They could not have cut it any finer second time round against Exeter as the result was in doubt until the last wicket fell with two balls left and two runs in it.

Braunton have opened up a gap of 22 points between themselves and the bottom three. They are away to doomed Budleigh Salterton 2nd XI this Saturday.

CLYST Hydon may have left it too late to dodge relegation from the C Division East, but a nine-wicket win over Whimple in a 25-over dash will have done wonders for morale.

Hydon can’t save themselves from the drop now as they are 64 points adrift with 60 to play for, starting at Alphington this Saturday.

Opener Mike Searle (52) and Devon Nightingale (59) both made half-centuries and with Cameron Kidd chipping in with 31 a total of 175 for five was posted.

Hydon skipper Ian Sutton (87) and Sinthuran Thevaraj (59) put on 124 to get the chase started.

Graham Trude (13no) was still there with Sutton when the winning runs were hit with three overs to go.

Hydon are away to Alphington, who tied with Braunton at Kelsey in their last match.