Budleigh beat Abbots by five wickets to go 31 points clear at the top | 'Not there yet' says skipper Doble
BUDLEIGH Salterton have the smell of promotion in their nostrils after beating B Division stragglers Abbotskerswell by five wickets.
The combination of a win over Abbots and defeats for chasers Plymstock and Ivybridge has given Budleigh a 31-point advantage in the promotion race.
With 80 to play for things can still change, but as Ivybridge and Plymstock still have each other to play one of them is going to fall further behind.
Ed Doble, the Budleigh captain, is staying calm and collected for the time being.
“We are getting closer, but not there yet,” said Doble.
Abbots, long resigned to a second successive relegation, were bowled out for 132 with more than 13 overs to go.
Opener James Tyler top scored with 52 for Abbots, whose next-best contribution was the 33 made by tail-ender Jay Hussain.
Newcomer Hugh Moore (5-34) was influential in reducing Abbots to 23 for five. Sam Whitehead, Jack England and Ryan Cotton-Harris all took wickets that kept the pressure on.
Budleigh stumbled briefly on the chase when 57 for none became 67 for three. Luke Domachenz (20) and Luke Davies (35) were among the casualties. Max Mejzner (32) and James Doble (24) took Budleigh within sight of victory.
There were two wickets each for Abbots seamers Anthony Miller and Jake Fox on his elevation to the 1st XI.
[O] It was a good day all round for Budleigh as all three teams – 1st XI, 2nd XI and 3rd XI – registered wins.
