Babbacombe pulled off an unlikely 84-run win at Bridestowe after being bowled out for 136.

Gary Sizmur (4-13) and Alex Jopling (2-28) did the damage with the ball for Bridestowe, who had Babbacombe reeling before Steve Bowman (31) and skipper Rob Redding (35) intervened.

Bridestowe found runs even harder to come by as they were skittled out for 52 in reply.

Ben Passmore (4-9) and Tim Goodwin (2-5) tied up the loose ends after Steve Broad (3-28) softened them up.

Skipper Redding said: “It was as great win on a difficult batting surface.

“Outstanding bowling from Ben Passmore, backed up by Steve Broad, helped.”

STOKE Gabriel captain Jack Tolley has set out his objectives for the season after a 23-run opening-day win over Shaldon.

Stoke are back in the C Division West following promotion last summer and skipper Jack Tolley hopes they are just passing through.

Having beaten a side that featured in the promotion race last season, Tolley believes his aspirations are realistic.

“Always good to start with a win, especially against one of the stronger sides in the division,” said Tolley.

“We need to improve our fielding and running between the wickets, but we have our overseas player and two other accomplished batsmen to come back in next weekend.

“We are looking forward to the rest of the season and have set our sights on back-to-back promotions."

Stoke’s front three of Tolley (24), Isaac Withington (39) and Tim Withington (41) took them to 164 for four in an eventual total of 202 for eight.

Will Greenwood picked up four wickets in the latter overs, but at the cost of 56 runs.

Shaldon’s top six failed to fire in a meaningful way – Kyle Lardner (3-33) doing the damage - apart from skipper Todd Ballman, who dug in for 71 off 109 balls.

Ballman and Lewis Jeffrey (31) moved the score along from 72 for five to 150 for six and the game was back in the balance.

After Ballman fell to opposite number Tolley the chase slowed and Shaldon closed on 179 for eight.

DARTINGTON & Totnes made light work of an eight-wicket win over Kingsbridge.

Skipper Harry Baxendale picked up four wickets for seven runs and there were two each for Phil Snyman and Chris Cook as Darts dismissed Kingsbridge for 74.

Take out Richie Carr’s 27 and there was not a lot from the rest.

Snyman (39) and Baxendale (20no) wrapped up victory in a hurry.

CORNWOOD 2nd XI lacked the bowling firepower to stop Ashburton cruising to a six-wicket win in the C Division West curtain raiser at Oak Park.

Opener Marc Roca top scored with 43 for the Corns in a total of 182 for seven.

Luke Richardson (39) and Dan Piddock (42no) kept the board ticking over, but Cornwood always looked short of runs.

Ashburton shared the wickets around with Chris Yeo (2-19) the only bowler with more than one.

Steve Edmonds, who played Premier cricket for Paignton in the past, took one for 15 from seven tidy overs on his return to the game after a long break.

Cornwood’s opening bowler Lee Baker (2-22) then had Ashes wobbling at 43 for three, which as just about as good as it got.

Dan Coles (31no) and Arun Karthick (42) wiped off 80, leaving Edmonds to make 20 not out in a stand of 63 with Coles to finish it.

YELVERTON’S first game in the C Division West following promotion ended in a heavy 97-run defeat by Plymouth 2nd XI.

Geoff Martin opened up for Plymouth with 41 – six fours and a six from 55 balls faced – and there were chip-ins from Dave Burke (30) and Tom Hughes (20) towards a total of 194 all out.

The last four wickets went for just 12 runs as skipper Sam Crompton (3-42) and Toby Julyan (2-28) busied themselves.

Yelverton lost both openers without a run on the board and struggled to get former Devon pacer Burke off the square. He bowled nine overs for 10 runs.

Wickets were shared at first until Hughes and Fahad Ali with identical figures of three for 19 got to work.

Ryan Dibble was last man out for a top score of 20 in Yelverton’s total of 97 all out.

Skipper Crompton said the season had started a week too early for his team, which was way below full strength.

“Only three players from last year’s promotion squad were available and we were missing a lot in the batting department,” said Crompton.

“We have a few coming back this week which should shore up our batting line-up.”