Vincent and Bharadwaj send Hatherleigh spinning to defeat | 'Our spinners bowled well and pulled them back' – Dan King

CULLOMPTON moved up from third to second in the A Division table on the strength of a 55-run win at Hatherleigh.

Dan King was the only one of the top-six Cully batters to miss out in a 50-over total of 257 for eight.

Second-wicket pair Dinesh Raheja (47) and Deshan Dias (39) put on 79, followed by a hefty stand of 98 between the Parr brothers. Brendon Parr was 69 not out at the end. Jason Parr made 43.

Picking-up wickets and keeping the runs down was a challenge for Hatherleigh, although Charlie Presswell (2-24) and Sean Letheren (0-18) gave it a go.

Hatherleigh got to 98 of two without too many issues – Ryan Davies (53) and Shrey Ghosh (42) largely responsible – and were up with the clock at 174 for four with 23 overs to go. 

Jasper Presswell’s departure for 35 to James Vincent was the beginning of the end for Hatherleigh.

Six wickets fell for 28 runs scored as Vincent (4-52) and Akshay Bharadwaj (3-53) whittled down the tail.

King, the senior player in the team, said it was a proper game of cricket that swung both ways.

“Hatherleigh did well to keep us to 257, which we thought might be 20-30 runs short on that wicket,” said King.

“It was good to see Jason Parr and Dinesh Raheja find some form with the bat and Dias and Brendon batted well again. 

“Our bowlers struggled to find the right line and length on the wicket in the first half of their innings – and their batters took advantage.

“The second half was a different story. Our spinners bowled well and pulled them back.

“James Vincent bowled really well on his return, with good variations of pace and line, Akshay, Dinesh, and Jason also bowled with good control in the latter half of the game.”

Rob Cockwill, the Hatherleigh captain, did not have much to complain about.

“The result was disappointing, but happy with the way we played, in the most part,” said Cockwill.

“There are a few learning points we can take away from the game, especially with the bat. The good thing is we have this Saturday (against Kilmington) to put it right. 

“Credit to Cullompton: they never gave up and took the chances we gave them.”