Chris Kelmere – back in the groove <br>credit: Conrad Sutcliffe - no re-use without copyright owner's consent

TORQUAY & Kingskerswell defeated Budleigh Salterton by 46 runs in the only A Division game that started.

Victory took Torquay & Kingskerswell up to third in the table at the expense of Heathcoat, who were rained-off at Bridestowe & Belstone. The promotion rivals meet this Saturday at Knightshayes.Budleigh's Jack England - posed early problems for Torquay & Kingskerswell

Torquay & Kingskerswell recovered from a double blow that left them on 48 for five to reach an impressive 177 for eight in a 24-over game.

Captains past and present – Chris Kelmere (37) and Harry Passenger (52) – put some ‘oopmph’ into the middle-order during a stand of 65. Bits and pieces from James Tyler (12) and Harry Baxendale (16no) helped the score along. 

It was Kelmere’s first game of the season and a welcome return as far as Passenger was concerned.

“It was great to have ‘Kels’ back in the fold and good to see he hasn’t lost any effectiveness in his sabbatical,” said Passenger.

Jack England (3-26) had two of the first four wickets to fall. The rest were shared with Ollie Blakemore the only other bowler with more than one.

Budleigh only got as far as 131 for seven before they ran out of time. Luke Davies made 28 batting first wicket down and Lloyd Murrin reached 30 later on.

Tyler, Baxendale and Kelmere claimed two wickets each for T&K. Tyler was the only one to cost more than five an over, which was another limiting factor for Budleigh.

Passenger said: “All round it was a great performance with faultless want and drive from the lads.”

The T&K skipper also praised Budleigh Salterton’s players for their eagerness to get the game on.

“Credit to the groundsmen and also the Budleigh lads for pushing to definitely get some cricket on after the wait,” said Passenger.

[O] Six weeks into the 2025 season three Saturdays have been largely wiped out by bad weather. That’s not a great success rate, although there have been far worse seasons in the past.

Historic league tables show 1988 as one of the worst seasons for wet weather problems with 29 cancellations in the Premier Division alone. Plymouth, North Devon and Hatherleigh all had six games cancelled. That was in a 24-match season.

The 2008 summer was another disaster zone in the Premier Division with 28 casualties – and that was in an 18 games per-team summer. No one suffered more than Sandford, who missed seven games.