E Division West round-up – week 16: Gregersen (pictured) in at the end as Abbots clinch promotion
PROMOTION is in the bag for Abbotskerswell 2nd XI after an eight-wicket win over Teignmouth & Shaldon 2nd XI guaranteed them an immediate return to the D Division West.
And a win this Saturday over second-placed Tavistock 2nd XI, which certainly cannot be taken for granted, would clinch the E Division West title.
Teignmouth & Shaldon, who are hovering just above the bottom two, were bowled out for 154. Jamie Lee (4-32) butchered the top five and there were wickets later on for Will Small (2-22) and Erik Gregersen (2-27).
Robert Murfin (38) and Usamah Iqbal (34) registered the only scores above 20 for T&S.
Abbots had a minor wobble at the start of their reply when Simon Harrison and Max Yates went cheaply.
Gregersen (54no) joined Nick Guest (44no) on 40 for two and the pair closed-out the win with more than 11 overs to spare.
TAVISTOCK 2nd XI are back in the E West promotion frame thanks to a nine-wicket win over Cornwood 3rd XI
Cornwood were second behind champs elect Abbotskerswell 2nd XI going into round 16, and Tavistock back in fourth.
Now those positions have been traded in a two-three-four of Tavistock (229pts), Stokeinteignhead (228) and Cornwood (220) in the race to finish as runners-up behind Abbotskerswell. Even Plympton (220) are not out of it yet.
David Milligan was the man of the moment for Tavistock with a five-wicket haul that helped consign them to 103 all out.
Brett Thomas (2-19) took two of the Cornwood wickets lost getting to 18 for four. Max Daniels (30) then 23 extras were the Wood’s main contributors.
The run chance only took 23 overs with one piece of punctuation when Jack Smyly (12) was dismissed on 24.
Ryan Burke (19no) and Ben Evans (50no) put on 80 to win it.
WHITCHURCH are still in with a fighting chance of avoiding relegation into the F Division despite a four-wicket defeat by Plympton 2nd XI.
Results elsewhere were relatively kind to Whitchurch, which means they can still get out of the bottom two. A win over Bridestowe & Belstone this Saturday is crucial.
Whitchurch were in all sorts of trouble at 67 for six before Jack MacKenzie (36) commenced a rescue act. Marc Kerswill (37), Nathan Prout and a sizeable slice of 46 extras helped reach 201 all out in the 42nd over.
Adam Sellick (2-38) and Joe Coppola (2-20) caused Whitchurch’s initial problems Evie Pitman (3-24) returned to cut short the fightback.
Sanketh Abilash opened with a season’s best 64 that pointed Plympton towards victory. He was fifth out on 179 having put in 58 with Jake Agnew (42) towards getting there.
Bits and pieces from Jake Sellick (17no) and Matt Duckworth (12no) joined-up the dots for Plympton.
BRIDESTOWE & Belstone 2nd XI appear safe from the threat of relegation from the E Division West thanks to a 45-run win over visiting Paignton 3rd XI.
The seventh-placed Moorlanders are now 24 points ahead of second-bottom Whitchurch, which should be enough to preserve their E West status.
Phil Hatton (65), Ian Jutson (49) and Phil Woods (42) scored most of the runs that took B&B to 186 for two. There was a minor slip to 188 for four before Noah Metherall (18), Dale Harris (17no) and Richard Drake (15) kicked on to reach 245 for six.
Ethan Hancock and John Bewick had a couple of wickets each for Paignton.
Paignton got as far as 200 for six before their time ran out. On a good day for the Kirkup tribe, Stuart made 40 opening up and Sam top scored with 51. Hancock (25) and Harry Knight (31no) both chipped in.
Alex Fillingham (3-37) was B&N’s stand-out bowler.
STOKEINTEIGNHEAD’S made it four wins on the trot in the E Division West with a narrow two-wicket verdict over bottom side Dartington & Totnes.
While Dartington & Totnes appear to be heading for a fourth straight relegation. A loss to Paignton 3rd XI this Saturday would confirm it, Stokeinteignhead have forced their way into the promotion reckoning
The Villagers are only two points behind second-placed Tavistock 2nd XI with 40 points left to play for against Cornwood 3rd XI and champs-in-waiting Abbotskerswell 2nd XI.
Openers Jono Lloyd (76) and Justin Osborne (23) gave D&T a decent start, which was built on by Jon Perkin (30) and Javin Raj (22no) towards a total of 192 for five.
Chacko John (3-25) was Stoke’s most successful bowler. Jamie Clinkett and Lishoy George both operated well below four runs an over.
It looked like a done deal when Stoke were 167 for three in reply with runs in the lap top for Hugo Longrigg (69), Joe Liyo (52) and Paul Russell (24).
Losing five wickets for just two runs left Stoke in all sorts of trouble at 169 for eight. Osborne (3-23) and Stuart Featham (2-44) did the damage.
George got his head down for an unbeaten 19 that saw Stoke to victory early in the 31st over.
