BIG hitter Jay Hussain got hold of the bowling to steer Abbotskerswell to a seven-wicket victory over winless Hatherleigh 2nd XI.
Hatherleigh, defending a total of 191 for seven, picked-off Abbots’ opener Richard Harmer then Charlie Hill while the ball was new, but had to wait a while for any other breakthroughs.
Hussain, in his new role opening the batting, flayed seven sixes and six fours on the way to making 76 off 63 balls.
Brayden Notman (64no) carried on after Hussain missed a straight one and won the game for Abbots during an unbroken stand of 59 with Tom Heath (19no).
Skipper Danny Forrester had rescued Hatherleigh from a nervy 89 for five with a top score of 36 not out.
Sam Clarke (22) and Cameron Rowlands (28) had already been and gone before Forrester linked-up with Jack Probert (36) to post 51 for the sixth wicket.
Tom Strawbridge (29no) added exactly 50 with the captain before time ran out.
Hatherleigh only got small change out of bowling spells from Hussain (3-14), Max Yates (also 3.14) and Notman (3.67).
ANDY Birkett hit his fourth 50-plus score of the season so far for Plymouth 2nd XI in their 70-run win over their Paignton counterparts.
Birkett has batted five times this season and the only side to avoid his lash is Abbotskerswell. The former Cornwall batsman is averaging a more-than respectable 76.50 in the league.
Birkett and George Toms (41) were Plymouth’s main sources of runs in their tally of 218 for nine. Thirty-seven extras helped. Paignton leg-spinner Arthur Ray’s bowling figures of three for 32 included Toms.
Paignton had everything to do after sliding to 78 for six in reply after Ben Smith (5-29) dismantled their top order. Only Sam Woodcock (21) and Matt Lipton (25) lasted long.
George Woodcock (43) and Harry Roberts (25) provided lower-order stubborn-ess, but too late to change the outcome. Sam Burns (2-40) finished what Smith started as Paignton were packed-off for 148.
JAMIE Ingram’s prolific season with leaders Ipplepen continued with an unbeaten 82 in a crushing seven-wicket win over Chudleigh.
Chudleigh, third on the morning of the match before running into the unbeaten C West leaders, were skittled out for a mere 120. There were more extras (29) than any batsman managed, although Tim Sandercombe (26) got close.
Henry Alsop (3-29) caused Chudleigh early concerns, Noah Rider (2-18) got into the middle order and a combination of George Tapley (2-2), Ross Kennard and Andrew Bligh finished them off.
Kiwi Ingram went in at 10 for one after Pens lost Noah Sutton. He was still there eight overs later when he launched Luke Quaintance for his second six. Ingram is fast approaching 350 league runs for the season and is averaging a smidgen above 67.
KINGSBRIDGE are still second in the Tolchards DCL C Division West thanks to a 70-run win over second-bottom South Devon.
James Westlake must like something about the South Devon bowling as he took another century off them! He reached exactly a hundred this time, three runs fewer than last season’s tally.
Freddie Ford made 55 – he and Westlake put on 133 for the first wicket – and there were more runs to come from Felix Iles (32) and a staggering 51 extras in a team total of 318 for nine.
Bowling successes were hard to find in South Devon’s scorecard, although Alan Berchams (4-43) did open his account with Westlake’s wicket.
South Devon were 248 for nine in reply. which was a definite improvement on all their previous games. It was their first total above 160 this season.
Jonty Tupman (20) and Jalal Ahmed (40) got away to a 64-run start, Aaron Hammett (21) and Jack Allen. (40) kept going and there was 33 for Dan Yates before the reply tailed-off. Fifty-four extras earned South Devon a batting bonus point!
There were two wickets each for Town seamers Richard Carr and Flynn Taylor. Bhanu DeSilva had three for 36.
