B DIVISION front-runners Bidedord handed out an eight-wicket hiding to Ivybridge when they visited Westward Ho!
Sam Northmore (29) and Cebo Tshiki (27) were out of the way in Ivybridge’s running total of 110 for four,
Most of the remaining runs in a 45-over total of 210 for eight were made by Harry Solomon (51) and Arthur Johnson (32no). They put on 66 for the sixth wicket.
Three run-outs did not do Ivybridge any favours – Solomon one of them. Five Bideford bowlers took one wicket each.
Tshiki accounted for James Ford and Tom Brend, Bideford captains past and present, in a chasing total of 56 for two. That is as good as it got for Ivybridge.
Ollie Hannam stroked an unbeaten 103 from 90 balls – 14 fours and three sixes – and with Clayton Malgas unbeaten on 73 at the other end the target was achieved with more than six overs to spare.
Skipper Brend said it was an ‘excellent win’ from a team that ‘bowled and fielded well for the most part’.
Brend added: “We were superb with the bat and there needs to be a special mention for Oli Hannam for his maiden 1st XI ton.
“Oli batted superbly and was well supported by Clayton, who showed patience and power and saw us to a comfortable win.”
CULLOMPTON are still looking for their first league win in the B Division after going down by five wickets to Clyst St George.
Cully, who were able to include Zimbabwean Tafara Mupariwa for the first time this season following his arrival in the country, made 184 for five in 45 overs.
Skipper Todd Scrace (29) and Brendon Parr (57) got runs in the top four then Nathan Green (39) moved the score along in the later overs.
Wickets were shared round with two each for the Clyst trio of Stephen Bourke, Ronaldo Callender and Par Singh.
Clyst were home and dry with more than two overs to spare. Chris Ferro (29) and Bourke set the chase in motion then Krupakar Nallala (68) and skipper Dan Kendall (38no) effectively finished it off.
There were two wickets each for Scrace (2-31) and Chris McKee (2-25).
Defeat leaves Cully one off the bottom of the B Division table and already 12 points adrift of the safety line.
Scrace said he is not unduly worried at this early stage of the season as the side is improving week on week.
“Pleasingly, we batted out our overs and posted a just below-par, but defendable, score on a tricky, wicket early on,” said Scrace.
“In the end it came down to losing small moments in game. Had we not dropped one catch and taken a couple of half chances, we could have been looking at a much different result.”
Winning captain Kendall said keeping Cully below 200 was key to winning the game,
“We bowled really well with the new ball then spinners Ronaldo and Par Singh gave no freebies to restrict Cullompton to 184,” said Kendall.
“The chase was well paced with the standout knock from Krupakar Nallala ,who played some eye,catching shots.
“Overall, a good game of cricket played in the right spirit. The Cullompton lads are a credit to the club and will no doubt pick up wins soon.”
