SHOBROOKE Park posted their second win on the trot in the C Division East when they saw off Ottery St Mary by 54 runs.
With confidence high after the derby win over Sandford 2nd XI seven days Earlier, Shobrooke totalled 213 all out with nine balls unused.
The Ottery middle-order failed to fire and from 110 for seven onwards there was only one likely outcome.
Victory keeps Shobrooke fourth in the league standings. They are two points behind Exmouth and five adrift of second-placed Exeter.
Jon James (60) top scored for Shobrooke and put on 67 with Chris Simpson (20) for the second wicket.
There was a minor lull in the run getting until seventh-wicket pair Ben Trenaman (39) and Chris Ford (24) added 51 to take the total past 200.
Ottery’s leading wicket takers were Freddie Eul-Baker (3-49) and Jody Clements (2-31).
Skipper Alex Clements made a patient 38 at the top of the Ottery order, but no one else in the top five reached double figures.
Eul-Barker (19) and Will Harrison (21no) that helped Ottery to the consolation prize of three batting bonus points in a final total of 159 all out.
James is the man in form with the bat –234 league runs at an average around 80 – and skipper Trenaman has recognised his importance to the team.
“It was a solid performance all round, set up by Jon at the top of the order,” said Trenaman. “He is ageing like a fine wine and just keeps getting better.
“The depth of our batting paid dividends and allowed us to push to a target that was difficult to chase due to a slow outfield.
“Whilst most are making starts I'm still waiting on a few of the top order to go on and make a big contribution, but I have faith that will come.”
Trenaman said Shobrooke produced their best bowling display of the season so far to put Ottery behind the clock from the start.
“Given we were missing our main two opening bowlers I'm delighted by the performance and I know I have great options moving into the next stage of the season, “ said Trenaman.
“From a bowling perspective this was our best performance yet.
“Mark Wheeler and Chris Simpson bowled with real control opening up, which put Ottery well behind the rate needed. This was backed up brilliantly by Josh Lamprecht, who bowled his best spell for us yet.”
BRAUNTON’S one-wicket defeat by Clyst St George could not have been much more of a nail-biter.
Alfie Huxtable top scored with 80 in a Braunton total of 243 for four.
Clyst got the runs with one ball of the game to go and their last pair of batsmen at the wicket.
Fifteen to win from the final three overs with three wickets in hand was Clyst’s target – and losing two wickets getting within three runs set-up a grandstand finish.
Steve Moore, Braunton’s senior player, said it was a ‘really good game of cricket’ to play in.
“Clyst kept playing their shots and thoroughly deserved the win,” said Moore. “They do look a very strong batting side
“The steady drizzle that came after 20 overs of the Clyst innings made life difficult for our bowlers, not that that is as an excuse.”
Huxtable, who batted at first wicket down, put on 69 with Rob Collier (41), 52 with skipper Callum Mitchell (25) and 82 with Sam Bithell (38no).
None of the Clyst bowlers took more than one wicket. George O’Dwyer (1-26), Ollie Manning (1-26) and Inder Singh (1-41) gave little away.
Chris Ferro (43) got the Clyst chase up and running with back-up from skipper Dan Kendall (22) and Andy Donovan (23).
Singh (33), Bertie Creer (45) and Harry Attwater (44) appeared to have the chase under control, but all three fell to Mitchell (3-53) as the chase stumbled from 203 for five to 236 for eight.
Par Singh (6no) and Ewan Cragg (1no) were the not out batsmen at the end.
SANDFORD 2nd XI are one off the bottom of the C East table after a heavy 110-run defeat by Sidmouth 2nd XI.
Dan Powell cracked 97 and Elliot Rice 65 in a Sidmouth total of 280 for seven.
James Theedom made 52 in the Sandford reply, which petered out on 170 for eight. Veteran spinner Miles Dalton had three wickets for 24 runs.
TOM Bath and Kai Higham got Exmouth out of a spot of bother against Upottery with a stand that changed the game.
Winless Upottery had Exmouth wobbling at 81 for six with Lawrence Greenway (30) back in the pavilion and skipper Richard Baggs just out for 16.
Ben Kidson (4-41_ and Adrian Salter (2-43) were the bowlers who did the damage for Upottery.
Bath and Higham turned the game on its head with a stand of 136 that took Exmouth to 217 for seven. Bath (73) was first to go.
Higham (72) and Greg Marks (22) pushed the Exmouth total close to the final tally of 264 for nine.
It was clear a long way out that Upottery were going to fall short on the chase – mean bowling by Matt Tarry and Sean Day made that a certainty – and at 128 for five the target was batting bonus points.
Matt Broom made a patient 62 and with Ryan Pulman (27) also chipping in a respectable total of 211 for eight was achieved.
Exmouth’s Lawrence Greenway got into the lower order to book figures of four for 48 and clinch a 55-run win.
STAND-in skipper Mark Gribble collected a five-wicket haul in Exeter 2ndXI’s 50-run win at Whimple.
Captain Graham White rested himself to give other players a game and no doubt enjoyed seeing his side tot-up 279 for five in 50 overs.
Pride of place in the batting stats went to Felix Joseph, who fired 115. The big stand of the day was one of 122 between Joseph and Oliver Gribble, who made 44.
Callum Hogan (29) and Mark Gribble (37no) chipped in to good effect.
Whimple had to score at more than six an over to overhaul Exeter, but found maintaining that pace tough as Alex Haywood, Fin Hill and Mark Gribble tied them down.
After reaching 173 for three in reply, Luke Phillps (35), Nathan Kiddd (41), Mark Porter (30) and Sam Jefferson (26) all contributing, Whimple nosedived to 184 for seven once Gribble senior brought himself on.
Oli Wesllesley (26) and Nathan Bright (18) did put up a fight, but with Gribble taking five for 38 Whimple were all out for 229.
