Ipplepen's Neil Hancock – made 97 after lbw decision reversed<br>credit: Conrad Sutcliffe - no re-use without copyright owner's consent

B DIVISION BY CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

SKIPPER Adam Huxtable hit 90 not out as his Ivybridge side cruised to an eight-wicket win over Heathcoat 2nd XI.

Heathcoat were all-out for 191 in the last of their 45 overs with no one making more than James Onley-Gregson, who made a patient 37 off 72 balls.

Will Bucknell (25) and Joe du’Gay 20 made early runs for Heathcoat. Finn Stoneman, the last man out, made 21.

Huxtable’s (2-26) kept the runs down when he bowled. So did Harry Solomon (2-37). James Grigg (3-35) was the leading wicket-taker.

Huxtable opened up with Harvey Johnson (31) and their stand of 58 primed the chase. By the time Zach Dunn (29) was second out on 134 Ivybridge were well on their way.

Dinesh Raheja (26no) was the not out batsman at the other end when Huxtable dispatched Onley-Gregson for four to win it with nine balls in hand.

Although Huxtable made a major contribution to Ivybridge’s first B Division won of the season, he was quick to share the credit around.

“It was a solid team performance,” said Huxtable. “Everyone bowled really well but James Grigg was the stand-out

“We fielded well and the top four took responsibility and got us a comfortable win in the end.

“I was really impressed with the way Zach Dunn batted when he went in at number three.”

Losing captain Matt Hodson said: “We were outplayed so credit to Ivybridge. Having batted first on a good pitch we would have liked at least 20-30 more and that may well have been enough. Just didn't quite hit our straps. 

“Having said that, we fought really well to take it to the penultimate over and made Ivybridge work hard for the win which was pleasing.”

PLYMSTOCK skipper James Nicholls had nothing but praise for his patched-up team after they were thrashed by 191 runs away to Bovey Tracey 2nd XI.

Openers Freddie Ford (51) and Will Christophers (68) put on 110 for Bovey’s first wicket before Fraser Cowan (2-57) bowled the latter.

Ford went on to add another 51 with Ben Steer (34) as the running total mounted.

Dan Green spanked 64 off 34 balls – three fours, six sixes – and it was his stand of 60 with Brad Causey (16) that put Bovey Tracey on the way to 294 all out and over the horizon.

Left-armer Billy Gibson picked-up Green on his way to a three-for-61 haul. At the other end of the scale Jason Williams collected three for 17 when the slog was on at the end.

Cheapest to run by a distance with nine overs for 35 runs was Tom Mitch.

Plymstock’s batters found Bovey’s new-ball pair Ryan Bougourd (2-15) and Chris Yabsley (1-18) tough to get away – and change bowlers Ollie Clifford-Bourne (4-23) and Christophers (3-17) were equally mean!

No one made more for Plymstock than Teddy Richards (16) as they limped to 76 for five. After that it was downhill all the way to 103 all out.

Not a great day from a Plymstock perspective, but Nicholls did not see it quite that way.

“On a day when I am missing half my team we run into a very strong side,” said Nicholls.

“I was proud of the effort we showed in the field and we scrapped for points all the way.

“My bowlers gave it everything and we can't complain.

“Bovey batted really well and showed how to build an innings and then really go hard with wickets in hand.”

THORVERTON ran out of steam on the chase at Ipplepen, where they lost by 32 runs.

Neil Hancock had some luck at times to make a top score of 97 in Ipplepen’s total of 224 for five.

Marcus Gadie opened up with 53 for Pens and when he was second out on 79 Hancock took over.

Hancock, dropped twice and involved in a lbw that never was, hit 10 fours and four sixes during a 65-ball stay. His running mate in a stand of 93 for the fifth wicket was Andy Maynard (26).

Hancock was given out lbw at one stage, but the umpire changed his mind when he realised the former Devon captain had hit the ball into his own pads.

Jake Choules (2-23) kept the lid on bowling up the hill. Dan Robbins and Alex Jopling were a little more costly.

Thors needed to score at around five an over to knock off the runs and at 99 for two with 20 overs to go were there or thereabouts. Losing Dan Robbins for 31 to Oliver Holroyd then Bobby Heard and David Baldock in quick succession to the same bowler altered the course of the game.

Luke Vukusic batted on to make 35 not out and was there at the end with skipper Choules (11no) in a Thorverton tally of 192 for eight.

Holroyd won’t forget his 1st XI debut for the Pens in a hurry as he took four wickets for 33 runs.

Simon Tapley, the Ipplepen team manager, said: “Marcus Gadie gave us a great start and Neil Hancock was brutal despite batting on one leg having injured a foot in his first over.

“Hanks was supported really well by second-team regular Andrew Maynard in a stand of 93.

“Despite a good start with the ball the game was in the balance while Robbins was there.

Olly Holroyd got him caught at mid off by a flying one-handed catch from Marcus Green.”

For Thors’ skipper Choules it was a case of fine margins taking the game away from his side.

“Ipplepen posted what I thought was a par score on a flat deck, but it could have been less if we bowled to our capabilities. 

“We dropped Hancock twice and also thought we had him lbw but the decision was reversed. 

“Our chase started comfortably and reached 99 for two, but then we lost quick wickets and didn't really put together another partnership after that. 

“It was a really frustrating day when we didn't show our qualities at all. We need to put it right over the next few weeks.”

DEPLETED Dartington & Totnes crashed to a hefty 281-run defeat when Kilmington visited Foxhole.

D&T were shorthanded in a number of departments and roped in 60-something club chairman Mick Rusling to bowl a few overs.

The 2nd XI had been looted to such an extend all D&T were left with was a youthful team that was deemed to young to face Plympton 3rd XI down in the G Division.

Billy Reed hammered 107 off 66 balls for Kilmington in their 45-over total of 228 for nine. Josh Short (65), Matt Rockett (40) and Matt Reed (27) all chipped in.

Alex Hartridge (4-50) and Joe Martin (2-23) easily took the bowling honours for D&T.

Darts were all out for 87 in reply and have traded places with Plymstock at the bottom of the table.

Olly Reed got wickets up front for Kilmington and came back at the end to finished with six for 16. Rob Crabb trundled away for three for 16.

Will Wyatt was 29 not out when the last D&T wicket fell.

For Kilmington skipper Garner it was just the result he wanted after the previous week’s slip-up against Thorverton.

“I was unsure what to do after winning the toss having never played there but it proved a good decision to bat and the wicket played well,” said Garner.

“Hoping to get on a run now and enjoy our cricket. Hopefully availability can remain good to give us a good chance of being up and around the top come the end of the season.

“Looking at results anyone can beat anyone on their day and it's a very hard division to predict what can happen this season.”