ABBOTSKERSWELL’S batsmen turned in a record busting performance in the 291-run win at Whitchurch.

Opener Charlie Mitchell blasted 106 off 68 balls to point Abbots towards a massive total of 406 for seven in 45 overs.

Matt Beasant then took six wickets for 25 runs as Whitchurch were skittled out for 115 by the divisional leaders.

Abbots’ total of 406 was a new record for the C Division, regionalised or otherwise, by quite a distance.

The previous best before regionalisation in 2015 was the 339 for three scored by Stoke Gabriel against Heathcoat back in 2004. The regionalised best was Whitchurch’s 338 for four last season against Yelverton.

Totals of 400 or more are rare in Devon League cricket with just seven recorded in all divisions since 1982, when serious record keeping began.

The daddy of them all remains Halberton & Sampford Peverall’s 494 for seven against Cullompton in 2008.

Abbots go in at fifth behind Halberton, Honiton (440-8 v Culmstock, 2015), Lifton (408-3 v Culmstock, 2013), and Woodbury (407 v Newton SC, 2012).

Openers Mitchell and Tom Durman (87) put on 174 for the first Abbots’ wicket – two short of the existing divisional record of 176 held by Chagford pair James Fulner and Phil Holland.

Mitchell – 18 fours and two sixes – was third out at 228 but the runs kept coming with skipper Charlie Hill (58) and Richard Acton (55) adding 99 for the fourth wicket.

Hill left the run feast at that point, but Alex Birt (22no) and Noah Tobias kept the bandwagon rolling along.

Take out Charlie Barriball\s 54 for Whitchurch, and there wasn’t a lot from the rest.

Abbots top the table by nine points from Alphington with Chagford back in third place.

Skipper Hill said the total exceeded his expectations by a distance.

“We thought 250-300 would be a good score on a good pitch with small boundaries,” said Hill

“Charlie Mitchell made batting look very easy taking every bowler apart in his maiden league hundred.

“Going along at nine an over for the whole game meant when batsmen like myself and Richard Acton came in we could play our shots knowing we had runs on the board already.”

Hill said there was more to the game than batting as the bowlers were also excellent.

Riccardo Small-Boyce proved too quick for their opener bowling him with the second ball of the innings.

Elliot Adams (2-26) bowled with great control and precision.

“Matt Beasant showed great control and variations. He ran through the middle order and the tail, which capped near-perfect performance from the team.”

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