C Division West round-up – week 17: Allen (pictured) undisupted man-of-the-match for South Devon in win over Brixham | Ipplepen 2nd XI in limbo while first team battle against relegation | Chudleigh save from relegation threat | Teignmouth & Shaldon hurtl
JACK Allen helped himself to four wickets, and Jonny Martin and Sean Andrews both took three more, as South Devon avenged an eight-wicket hammering by Brixham in the Marsh Road rematch.
Brixham’s top six was much changed from the one that chased 200 to win first time round – and the difference was clear in an all-out total of 129.
After an early duffing-up from Andrews (3-26) and birthday boy Martin (3-28), Brixham were wobbling at 59 for seven with match-pro Mo Shaikh already out.
There is nearly always a comeback in these situations and Brixham got one from Lee Upham (43) and Colin Horrocks (24). They put on 59.
Martin returned after a brief breather to remove Horrocks and two wickets in three balls for Allen had Brixham all out in the 22nd over.
Tim Robinson (2-17) picked-up a couple of early wickets to keep South Devon honest, but all that did was bring in man-of-the-match Allen sooner rather than later.
Allen struck an unbeaten 56 – ten fours and a six – and Kalen Warne (21no) was with him at the end of a game that lasted just 51 overs from start to finish.
IPPLEPEN 2nd XI suffered a four-wicket defeat at the hands of ‘potentially’ relegated Paignton 2nd XI.
Pens batting had a collective off-day with a pair of 21s from Freddie Harvey and Matt Quartley as good as it got in a total of 128 all out. Extras added another 37 runs.
Best of the bowling for Paignton was the five-for-33 bag claimed by Jacob Lander. Shresth Bhardwaj (3-17) flushed-out the lingerers.
Paignton made an unimpressive start – they were 34 for five after a going over from Jack Edworthy (4-33) but were rescued by former 1st XI captain Mark Orchard with a knock of 44 not out.
Sam Kirkup (22) and Ella Gill (17no) kept Orchard company as the deficit was whittled away.
Although Paignton are in the second relegation spot, there is a chain of events that could spare them relegation.
League rules don’t allow two teams from the same club to play in the same division – and if Ipplepen 1st XI are relegated from the B Division the obvious knock-on is their 2nd XI cannot stay in the C West.
If Ipplepen 2nd XI are forcibly relegated to accommodate the arrival of their 1st XI, Paignton could be reprieved.
League officials are reluctant to discuss iffs, buts and maybes before the season ends.
“It will be a matter for the executive committee,” said a league spokesman.
CHUDLEIGH earned the win they needed to stave-off the threat of relegation from the C Division East when they won at Kingsbridge by 40 runs.
The last time Kingsbridge won a game was way back on July 12 when they defeated table-proppers Plymstock 2nd XI by nine wickets. That’s six starts without a win, although thatr record includes a tied game against Brixham.
Chudleigh had more reason to be motivated than their mid-table hosts as they required one more win to stave-off relegation. For them it was mission accomplished.
Chudleigh recovered from a nervy start – they were 31 for three – to post a 45-over total of 230 for six.
Rob Clarke (42) and Will Heather (72) primed the recovery with a stand of 89. Raj Neelam (42no) and Bradley Sercombe (21) added 667 more for the sixth wicket.
Connor Rothwell (2-30) was Town’s only multiple wicket taker. Veteran Neal Peach bowled nine overs at a cost of just 19 runs.
Kingsbridge opener James Westlake passed 650 league runs for the season with a top score of 75 in a reply of 190 for seven. He is averaging a fraction over 55.
Skipper James Fletcher (51) need just 13 more runs to reach 600 after making his third half-century of the summer. Ricky Carr brought up the rear with 24.
Heather staked his regular claim for Chudleigh’s man-of-the match with two wickets for 17 runs from nine overs. Clarke (2-43) was the only other multiple wicket taker.
PLYMSTOCK 2nd XI’s miserable season continued with an eight-wicket defeat away to Teignmouth & Shaldon.
Plymstock, long ago resigned to relegation, were all out for 105 in the 37th over of a 45-over game.
Opener Manum Chowdhury was fifth out on 56 for a top score of 30. Ben Whalley made an entertaining 21 off 11 balls.
Liam Gardner (3-13) made early breakthroughs for T&S. Morgan Couch (4-29) got into the middle order.
Teignmouth & Shaldon hurtled to victory inside 13 overs. Couch (48) and Harrison Linnitt (40no) took them most of the way there.
