HATHERLEIGH are through to the Premier Division’s fourth-placed play-off after a dramatic last-ball win over Exeter in the semi-final round.

Gareth Tidball top scored with 73 in Hatherleigh’s all-out total of 184. Only two other players reached double figures. 

Exeter got down to the final over with their last pair in the middle and a target of 15 for victory. It came down to six to win off the last ball of the game from Sean Letheran, which Callum Hogan could only hit for four, which gave Hatherleigh a one-run win.

Rob Cockwill, the Hatherleigh captain, said: “It was really pleasing to get a win with a young side just to prove that we are good enough for this level.”

“Gareth Tidball and Eddie Jones batted very well setting the innings up,” said Cockwill.

“It wasn't an easy pitch to come in and start scoring straight away so it was important that Gareth batted as deep as he did.

“There were a few soft dismissals, which I wasn't too happy about, but that can happen. “

Hatherleigh will be at home to Plympton in the play-off game this Saturday.

Tidball went in at 57 for two following the dismissal of Rob Fishleigh (19) and was ninth out with an over to go.

Tidball was involved in stands worth 125 runs and had support from Eddie Jones (31). Exeter’s tally of 36 extras helped Hatherleigh’s cause.

Tynan Hill with a career-best five-for-34 haul was Exeter’s most successful bowler. Sam Read and Pete Hensor kept the rate down around three an over in their spells.

Exeter, who had Exmouth’s James Horler guesting at the top of their order, made solid progress to 109 for two in reply. Runs from Horler (28), Read (46) and Eddie Middleton (22) put the city side in a strong position.

It was a different story at 118 for six after a collapse largely engineered by spinner Jones (3-56).

Exeter batters Toby Jones (22) and James Khan (11) got Exeter back in the game until Jasper Presswell (4-23) sent them sliding again.

Last pair Elliot Barnes (11no) and Hogan (12no) could not quite do enough in the nail-biting final over from Letheran.

Cockwill said Letheren and Paul Heard set the tone for the second half of the game, but there was more to winning than that.

“Jasper was outstanding in the middle and at the death – and the two spinners (Eddie and Charlie) kept the run rate steady in the middle. 

“Our fielding has been improving week on week and we really put the squeeze on by not allowing any cheap singles throughout the innings.”

PLYMPTON have got a Premier play-off final to look forward to this Saturday after squeezing past Budleigh Salterton by 12 runs in the fourth-place semi.

Jason Degg came into the first team for a belated debut at the age of 48 and top scored with 33 in Plympton’s total of 162 for nine.

Elliot Hamilton made 27 – he and Degg put on 43 for the first wicket – and everyone in the top seven made it into double figures.

Alex Carr, who returned as captain after an injury lay-off made 26 going in at 117 for five. Josiah Caunter’s 13 not out at No.10 proved crucial in the final tottings-up.

Max Mejzner (3-39) shaded Budleigh’s bowling honours from Joel Murphy (2-29) and Will Oxland (2-32).

Budleigh were up with the asking rate for the first half of their chase – Harry Parkin (38) and Tom Oxland (30) contributing – but wickets in hand proved an issue. 

Five overs out the required 40 to win with four wickets in hand and lost Lloyd Murrin for 24 by the end of the over.

Plympton’s Caunter brothers – Joshua (0-26) and Josiah (4-36) – spun Budleigh to a crawl as they reached to 150 for eight when time ran out.

Skipper Carr said he was relatively confident 162 was a winning score because it had been tough making that many.

“It was adifficult wicket to bat on so we always felt 160 was about par,” said Carr.

“Jason Degg played a solid innings on debut and the lower order made some really useful runs after another little wobble in the middle.

“Our bowlers won us the game though. Jonty Walliker and Craig Donohue were almost unplayable up front and the Caunter brothers bowled some quality spin from the other end.

“It was a really good game played in the right spirit, against a Budleigh side we know are always hard to beat.”