E Division East round-up – week 10: Thorverton tighten grip on top spot with derby win over Cullompton

SKIPPER David Baldock was the undisputed man of the match for Thorverton 2nd XI in their 134-run derby win over Cullompton 2nd XI.

Baldock has led Thorverton to the top of the table with a run of six straight wins as they attempt to regain the D East status they lost last year.

Thorverton (149pts) are neck and neck with Newton Tracey (148) at the top of the shop.

Baldock the batter made a top score of 67 in Thorverton’s 45-over score of 231. Nathan Buckeridge made 38 before the captain arrived, Sam Jefferson (31) put on 61 with him and Awrangzeb Khogiani (20) made a few after he had gone.

Prince Xavier dominated the bowling stats for Cullompton with two for 31.

Baldock the bowler then took four wickets for 14 runs to consign Cullompton to 97 all out. Freddie Fenner (2-16) was next best.

Factor out a studious 25 from opener Elliot Rowland and there was not much to report from the runs-scored side.

NEWTON Tracey stay hard on the heels of leaders Thorverton 2nd XI in the E East promotion race following a three-wicket win away to Ottery St Mary 2nd XI.

Alex Clements top scored for Ottery with 95 and was the last man out in their total of 243 for five.

Clements put on 64 with veteran opener Steve Forbes (50) and 123 with Joe Blackmore (50no). He was stumped in the penultimate over skipping down the pitch to Newton spinner Sam Jennings.

Rob Gear (2-51) was the only Newton Tracey bowler to strike more than once.

Newton Tracey bat a long way down – Gear at nine has a career best of 127 in the North Devon League – which proved just as well.

Andy Hart opened with 83, Jennings weighed in with 33 and Sumit Ghangas made exactly 50 in a running total of 211 for six.

The Gears – Simon (11no) and Martin (14no) took Newton the rest of the way.

Kevin Brandom, Sophie Brandom and Will Harrison all took two wickets for Ottery.

FILLEIGH scraped home by one wicket in a nail-biter away to Clyst St George 2nd XI.

Sam Corney (89) and Gareth Hall (48) shared a 76-run stand for the fourth wicket that helped Clyst reach 246 for nine.

Nick Ollis (3-32) pipped Sam Witheridge (2-32) for Filleigh’s bowling pat on the back.

Filleigh had a shaky start – they were 33 for three – but were batted out of danger by surviving opener Tom Wilson (61).

Gerrie de Beer (25) kept the board ticking over, then Owen Penrice and Jacob Allies (52) got the total up to 206 for seven.

Losing Allies and Ollis left Penrice (24no) and last man Sam Windsor (8no) to knock off the final 13, which they did with three overs to go.

James Smart and Jasper Rockey took three wickets each for Clyst.