SOUTH ONE - MORE DIVISIONS LOWER DOWN PAGE
TORQUAY charge on at the top of South Division One after romping to an eight-wicket win over Bovey Tracey 2ndXI, writes Conrad Sutcliffe
Bovey totalled 182 for eight in a game initially reduced to 37 overs as side after a rain delay.
Ben Steer made 47 – just four fours, but two sixes – and Dan Green made a brisk 50 off 28 balls in a stand of 65 for the fifth wicket with skipper Bradley Causey (17).
Sonny Baker’s four for 16 off eight overs impressed in the Torquay bowling figures, even eclipsing ex-Glamorgan staffer Kazi Szymanski (2-32).
A further break for rain brought Torquay’s time down to 31 overs and the target to 172 to win.
Opener Josh Hunt and Noah Rider were both out by the time Torquay reached 34, which was as good as it got for Bovey.
Surviving opener Tim Western batted through for an unbeaten 73 at run-a-ball rate and his unbroken stand of 139 with Chris Kelmere won the game in a hurry.
Kelmere was not out on 55 when Torquay knocked off the winning runs with more than four overs to go.
Torquay (ave 19.67) lead Barton (ave 14.5) at the top of the table with two games left to decide who goes through to the play-offs.
Torquay play Abbotskerswell this Saturday and finish with Barton at Barton.
DARREN Cowley did not hang about with the bat when Barton met Abbotskerswell at Two Mile Oak.
Cowley smashed 43 off just 17 balls to help Barton reach 215 for eight in a 36 rain-affected overs.
Cowley went in at 50 for two, lost partner Shaun Needham (38) almost immediately, and put in 43 for the fourth wicket with Adam Parker, whose contribution was just three.
Matt Lipton hit 72 not out further down the order – six fours, four sixes – and put on 73 for the seventh wicket with Nathan Beech.
Ben Cowdry (3-38) and Alex Birt (3-48) were Abbots’ leading wicket takers.
Alex Gooding, the Suffolk-born Kiwi lined up as Abbots’ overseas player this season, bowled seven overs for 30 runs in a guest appearance having travelled down from Ipswich to play.
There was no play after the interval.
SOUTH TWO
THE South Two programme was badly hit by the weather with one game failing to go the distance and the other not starting at all.
Chudleigh were all out for exactly 100 against Dartington & Totnes with no one doing better than the Heather brothers. Matt made 22 and Will 19.
Ben Hartridge (3-9) and Chris Cook (3-10) spun through Chudleigh’s lower order as the last six wickets went for just 17 runs.
Jono Colegate was 34 not out in Chudleigh’s total of 48 for three when rain stopped play.
There was no play at all in the game between Ipplepen and Brixham at Moor Lane.
