C Division East round-up – week three: Lock (pictured) takes control of Heathcoat run chase
HEATHCOAT 2nd XI opener Tom Lock compiled a dogged 92 not out to pave the way for a six-wicket win over Exmouth 2nd XI.
It was Heathcoat’s third league win on the spin and was just enough to preserve a one-point lead over Sandford at the top of the shop.
Exmouth’s 45-over total of 176 for eight was a sum-of-the-parts affair with no one making more than Connor McCann (44). The fact there was no stand greater than 44 tells its own story.
Opener Will Gingell made 35, new skipper Sam Radford chipped in with 26 and Ollie Dawe made 22 not out at the end.
Spinner Jack Menheneott continued his Heathcoat comeback after a year out of the game with a three-wicket haul and there were two each for Lee Dixon and Jack Tucker. Tiverton rugby captain Matt Hague bowled eight overs for just 18 runs.
Lock and Jeremy Bedford (32) wiped 55 off the deficit before the former was stumped going after Andrew Murray (3-42).
A third-wicket stand of 106 between Lock and Joe Parkinson (28) put the chase to bed.
SANDFORD 2nd XI remained calm under pressure to close out a six-run win away to Ottery St Mary.
Tom Maidment top scored for Sandford with 63 towards their tally of 225 for six.
Ottery got down to the final five overs needing 40 to win with five wickets in hand and batters John Buckland and Ed Philpott apparently well set.
Maidment bowled the final over defending a lead of 14, which was too many for Buckland (46no) and Philpott (39), who only got as far as 219 for five.
Sandford’s total was underpinned by Ryan Glass (40) and Tom Gidney (22) before Maidment got going.
Maidment, in at 87 for three, put on 43 with Shaun Hawkins and 48 unbroken with Pete Steer.
Top-order runs from Sam O’Nyons (22), Alex Clements (35) and Rhys Norman (32) were inflated by Hayden Johnston in a running total of 148 for five. The platform was there for a successful chase, but Buckland and Philpott didn’t quite make it.
NEWCOMER Ryan Botley rattled off an unbeaten 89 to steer Upottery to a six-wicket win over Bradninch & Kentisbeare 2nd XI.
Botley, who had a background in Home Counties cricket before heading West, teamed-up with Jack Larcombe to see the chase to a conclusion.
Ryan Pulman (53) and Rob Tasker (23) made early runs, then Larcombe (25no) and Botley won it with an unbroken stand of 113.
Bradninch & Kentisbeare made 228 for eight in 45 overs, which was quite an achievement for a side that had been 89 for six at one stage.
Will Squire, the former Devon spin bowler, found 42 runs tucked away in his kit bag and propped-up one end while Ankit Badwal (88) got on with it at the other. Their stand of 109 gave the bowling crew something to defend.
A FOUR-wicket burst from Tynan Hill put Alphington & Countess Wear on course for a 42-run win over Uplyme & Lyme Regis.
Uplyme, chasing 146 to win, were reduced to 56 for five with opening bowler Hill (4-19) doing most of the damage. Only Charlie Moss (24) hung around long.
Sam Farrow (30) got the visitors as far as 83 for six before the wheels fell off for good.
Steve Batey was left stranded on 19 not out at one end after Lawrence Marsh (2-12) and Wessel Oosthuizen (2-3) skittled Uplyme at the other.
Alphington & Countess Wear were unable to fully cash in on a promising start from Marsh (41) and Toby Jones (30) that helped them reach 103 for three.
Farrow destroyed the middle and lower order with a career best bowling performance of seven for 35 as A&CW faded to 145 all out. His previous best was a four-for-seven show in 2022 against Seaton.
SEATON defeated Exeter 2nd XI by four wickets to send the County Ground outfit into the bottom two.
Exeter were in all sorts of trouble at 68 for six after a top-order going over by Ben Morgan (5-38).
Archie Del Mar spared Exeter from further embarrassment by hitting an unbeaten 72 off 60 balls – 12 fours, two sixes – to reach a total of 143 all out in the 30th over.
Runs from Tristan Wakeley (22) and Kai Croft (22) got Seaton up to 59 for three in reply. Sam Goodier (61) took charge after that and by the time he was out the target was five to win.
