By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
ABBOTSKERSWELL had Budleigh Salterton on the ropes but failed to land the killer blow and it cost them the match.
Budleigh were 97 for six when Chathura Peiris (4-19) was a bit too quick for Tom Oxland and seemingly there for the taking.
Budleigh’s Ed Doble soaked up everything Abbots could throw at him and batted on and on for an unbeaten 75 that changed the course of the game.
Lloyd Murrin, the Budleigh captain, kept himself back until the seventh wicket went down, then started tucking into the bowling.
By the time Mark Gilmour (3-47) bowled the Budleigh captain he had whacked 40 off 34 balls in a stand of 57 with Doble.
Doble carried on to make 75 not out in a Budleigh total of 210 for five that always looked plenty for out-of-form Abbots to knock off.
A solid effort from the top three – Eddie Smout-Cooper (27), Sam Carpenter (24) and Nick Watkin (14) got Abbots up to 85 for two. Three wickets fell for 12 on the board – dangerman Peiris to a run-out for nothing – and Abbots were in a different place at 97 for five.
Ian Jarman (27) did his best to marshal the lower order, but man of the match Doble (4-7) and Joel Murphy (3-25) had Abbots all out for 140 with more than 10 overs to go.
Murrin said: “It was a great team performance – capped off by a superb individual effort from Ed Doble – to come back form a poor start with bat and ball and to get into winning positions shows we are going in the right direction.
“The boys showed great heart with the bat after being 26 for four after Peiris bowling a top first spell.
“To walk off the pitch setting 200-plus from where we were was and in a large part due to Ed Doble’s determined innings.
“The boys bowled and fielding outstandingly in the heat. Great 10-over spells from Kimber and England constricted Abbots before Joel Murphy and Doble ran riot again.
“A great match with both teams always in with a chance.”
Only winless Cullompton are below Abbots in the table ahead of this Saturday’s outing to fellow strugglers Seaton.
Skipper Watkin kept his post-match summing up brief.
“It was another tough day,” said Watkin. “We bossed the first 25 overs of the game, but from then on Budleigh dominated and fully deserved their win.”
