By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

DARREN Cowley and Justin Saker shared a match-winning stand of 83 to put Barton on course for a six-wicket win over Abbotskerswell.

Abbots, winless and one off the bottom of the A Division table, were all out for 175 in the 49^thof their 50 overs.

Barton did not have much luck with the ball during the first 25 overs – Abbots went into the turnaround on 102 for three – and there were runs for in-form Eddie Smout-Cooper (54), Sam Carpenter (29) and captain Nick Watkin (49).

That changed after drinks as Cowley and Saker got the brake on when they bowled and wickets fell in the final 10 as Abbots tried to make up for lost time.

Charlie Hill (10) was the only Abbots’ batter to reach double figures as Cowley (3-11), Saker (3-37) and Scott Bellamy (2-17) bowled out the villagers.

Barton lost three wickets in quick succession as 54 for none became 59 for three. Among the casualties was Shaun Needham for 35.

That was the point when Cowley (41) was joined by Saker and by the time Jay Hussain broke the stand the target was 34 to win. Saker got most of them on the way to 51 not out.

That’s two wins on the spin now for Barton, whose skipper Adam Parker praised the bowling effort for keeping the target to manageable proportions.

“We did really well to restrict Abbots to 175 after being 87 for none.” said Parker.

“It looked like we could have been chasing a big one but we fought back and got ourselves back into the game.

“We batted brilliantly and our application and shot selection were ten times better then previous games this year. 

“We need to take the confidence into three tough games coming up (Bradninch, Cullompton and North Devon) and see where we are at the half way stage.”

Watkin took one look at the table after all the results came in and said: “We need to improve and fast!”

Assessing the performance against Barton, Watkin said: “We were good for the first 20 overs of our innings, but apart from that abject for the rest of the game. 

“Eddie and Carps laid a great platform and after that we were outplayed.

“It was criminal to get rolled out for 175 after the start we had.

“We never looked like bowling Barton out. Cowley and Saker did very well with both bat and ball and Barton fully deserved to win the game. “