CULLOMPTON won for the third time in the last four starts on their way up the B Division table when they overcame Ipplepen by four wickets.

Ipplepen were all out for 225 with more than three overs un-bowled, which represented quite a comeback after they had been 48 for four with big-hitting Neil Hancock among the casualties.

Adam Bryce (51) and Sam Wakeham (36) commenced rescue operations for Ipplepen then George Tapley (50) and Andrew Bligh (22) got the total past 200.

“We were indebted to two maiden league 50s from Adam Bryce and George Tapley, said Pens’ team manager Simon Tapley.

Jack Grandfield had three wickets for Cully and there were two each for Jason Parr and brother Brendon, whose victims included dangerman Hancock.

Cully opener Tafara Mupariwa (45) got the chase up to 100 with support from Jason Parr (39).

Tapley (2-30) capped a fine solo show with two wickets in his second over.

Brendon Parr chipped in 25 and bits and pieces got Cully ahead of the run rate at 150 for six when the game was abandoned in the 28th over, just as Ipplepen were launching their counter attack.

“Our spinners – Green and Bryce –pegged it back really well and when hanks bowled Brendon Parr we were definitely favourites,” claimed Tapley.

Todd Scrace, the Cullompton captain, said winning on run rate was ‘slightly anti climatic’ but he could live with that,

Scrace added: “Bowling first was important and we were brilliant with ball and in the field to get stuck into their top order. We knew 225 in the end was slightly below par. 

“There haven't been many complaints about our batting so far this year, but we did give some cheap wickets away, which would have made the remainder of the game interesting had it been played.

“We were well ahead of the run rate for when the rain came.”

Tapley said although Cully were ahead on run-rate – no Duckworth-Lewis in the B Division and below – they were a long way from winning the game.

“Cullompton were well ahead in terms of runs when we came off for rain but still needed 76 with only four wickets left and all the big guns out,” said Tapley.

“I think we were slight favourites when the rain came, but without DLS batting first is a massive disadvantage when there is bad weather about.”