Heathcoat bounce back from T&K drubbing with eight-wicket victory over Ivybridge

HEATHCOAT moved on from their 161-run mauling by Torquay & Kingskerswell with a crushing eight-wicket win at Ivybridge.

Ivybridge’s all-out total of 148 always looked a tricky task to defend, and so it proved as Heathcoat cantered home with more than 18 overs to spare.

Ivybridge had not lost in the league since the second Saturday of the season when Bridestowe & Belstone turned them over by 15 runs. 

Former Heathcoat all-rounder Dinesh Raheja top scored for Ivybridge with 61 not out from 132 balls faced – five fours, countless dots – and Harry Solomon chipped in 30 towards a fifth-wicket stand of 60.

Raheja went in early after skipper and opener Adam Huxtable was dismissed in the second over for a first-baller by Matt Knight (2-25).

Losing South African batter Mickey Copeland to a run-out, when he was on six, did Ivybridge no favours at all. Neither side dipping from 112 for five to 118  for eight under pressure from Dan Pugsley (3-28).

Lewis Clarke hung around to make 17 at the end before two wickets in two balls for Tom Hatton (2-27) closed the innings.

Heathcoat’s run chase was a perfunctory affair rarely interrupted by wickets falling or maiden overs.

Hatton (77) and Jeremy Bedford (57no) made the outcome inevitable with an opening stand of 124. Dan Butler then captain Jamie Drew helped Bedford take Heathcoat the rest of the way.

Drew said there was plenty to praise as skipper in what he described as ‘a near perfect performance all round’.

Drew added: “Started well with the ball and restricted them from scoring for their whole 50 overs. 

“Matt Knight performed brilliantly on debut, bowling 10 straight through at the top. 

“And the bowlers were backed-up really well in the field. 

“It was nice for the batting to go well after numerous collapses this season. Bedford and Hatton got us off to the perfect start and killed the game off. 

“Really proud of the team performance.”