RICHARD Baggs clubbed his first league century since 2011 in Exmouth 2nd XI’s 112-run win over Whimple.
Baggs, who has more than 25 seasons under his belt in the Devon League, made 124 opening the innings in Exmouth’s total of 226 for eight.
Along the way there were stands of 55 with James Edworthy (27), 47 with Stuart Rintoul (14) and 64 with Jeremy Tozer (18).
The last time Baggs reached three figures in the league 2011 when he made 113 in a first team game against Heathcoat.
Matt Brown (2-33) dismissed Baggs on 199 for five when he had him caught at long-off.
“I had cleared it in the previous over – and hit a six over extra-cover as well,” said Baggs.
Cam Kidd (3-38) was marginally the pick of Whimple’s bowlers.
Whimple, who were third going into the game, were all out for 114 in reply.
Kidd made 43 against the club where he was a colt, Gareth Stoneman made 16 and no one else made more than nine.
Edworthy (4-27) vied with Matt Tarry (2-12 off 9) for Exmouth’s bowling honours.
Exmouth (192pts) are now third in the table and Whimple (183) have slipped to fourth.
Ben Silk, the Whimple captain, lamented his side’s inability to beat any of the sides above and around them. Not just Exmouth but Heathcoat and Sidmouth.
“It was a really disappointing display,” said Silk
“We don't seem to be capable of turning up against those three teams at the top.
“Perhaps we didn't have much luck with the ball and it could have been different had we got Baggs out early on.
“But to bat the way we did is so frustrating.”
LAST man Joe Barnes was the unlikely hero with the bat in Braunton’s one-wicket win over Ottery St Mary.
It must have looked like job done from Ottery’s perspective after they posted 266 for five – openers Ollie West and Alex Clements both making centuries – then had Braunton reeling at 107 for five in reply
Jason Raynor (66) stuck around for a while and at 166 for six Braunton were just about in the game. Then they lost three wickets for 12 runs – Raynor among them – and seemed dead and buried at 178 for nine.
Last pair Alec Hodges and opening bowler Barnes were faced with making 89 to win and thought ‘why not?’
Hodges carried on to make 32 not out while Barnes played his shots on the way to an unbeaten 54. Their stand of 92 was a new league record for any of the C Divisions in their varied 35-year history and won the game with an over to go.
Braunton are at home to Whimple this Saturday.
HEATHCOAT 2nd XI are in good shape for the C East promotion cruncher against Sidmouth 2nd XI on the Fortfield this Saturday after crushing Exeter 2nd XI by nine wickets.
Veteran Paul Elliott (4-20) got stuck into Exeter’s top order and once Mark Oelofse (22) and David Chamberlain (21) were out of the way it was downhill o 114 all out.
Joe Hancock, James Gregson and Finn Stoneman had two wickets each.
Opener Toby Lochead was Heathcoat’s only casualty in the 13.4 overs needed to knock off the runs.
Jake Stoneman (55no) and Todd Barrett (36no) finished the job in a hurry.
Matt Hague, settling into his new role as 2nd XI captain, said: “Paul Elliott set the tone early taking regular wickets, ably supported by James Gregson, who bowled a great spell.
“The chase was near perfect with Jake Stoneman and Todd Barrett batting aggressively.
“We look forward to Saturday at Sidmouth, which is a massive match for the title race.”
Hague was a member of the 1st XI that won the Devon T20 title two weeks ago and is believed to be the first person to win county cups at rugby and cricket during he same calendar year. His rugby win was with Barnstaple.
In a division with only one promotion place, Heathcoat (210pts) and Sidmouth (204) are the leading contenders.
If Heathcoat win this Saturday the pressure will be on Sidmouth to make up a 20-point deficit in the final five games. The arithmetic of that is Heathcoat would have to lose twice.
SHOBROOKE Park dropped into the C East bottom three after going down by 23 runs to Sidmouth 2nd XI.
Sidmouth were all out for 220 with eight balls to go having collapsed from 193 for five when Anthony Griffiths (44) fell to Mark Wheeler. Rory Thomas (47) and Tom Moore (50) were both in the runs when the going was good for Sidmouth.
Dan Robbins (5-29) and new captain Ben Trenaman (2-39) were the leading wicket takers.
Robbins (65), Jareer Shikrani (33), Jon James (28) and Neil Branton (30) appeared to have Shobrooke on course for victory at 170 for three.
Sidmouth skipper Griffiths had the bright idea of turning to occasional off-spinner Isaac Thomas to see if he could make something happen.
After a couple of overs getting his line and length sorted, Thomas ran through the Shobrooke middle and lower order. He had two wickets in two balls and two more in four on the way to match-winning haul of seven for 30 as Shobrooke were bowled out for 192 in the last of their 45 overs.
Shobrooke (126pts) have dropped behind Alphington (126) into the bottom three on fewer games won.
BARNSTAPLE & Pilton were 36-run losers in the C East basement battle at Alphington.
Alphington hoisted 255 for eight in their 45 overs, built on top of a knock of 99 from Sachithra Serasinghe.
Fifteen fours and two sixes underlined the Sri Lankan’s class. After he was third out on 130 to James Lake (3-23), Jack Mills (48) and Tom Weeks (32) kept the runs coming.
Matt Newton (4-47) bowled B&P into the bonus points at the end.
Sam Bithell (70) and James Tapp (30) made inroads into the Alphington total and when they went Lee Cole (28) and Newton (36) carried on chipping away.
Serasinghe – nine overs for 13 runs – and Kam Singh (2-16 off nine) put B&P behind the clock and they never caught up.
Barnstaple & Pilton were 219 for eight when the overs ran out and are now 37 points adrift at the bottom of the table.
Shobrooke Park visit Taw Meadow this Saturday.
