Devon Cricket Board - NDL Week 12: Sandford turn tables on Bideford

NORTH DEVON LEAGUE - WEEK 12

BIDEFORD slipped to their third defeat of the top-flight season, going down by three wickets at home to a Sandford side who were claiming their first victory, at the seventh time of trying!

Matt Allin (75) and skipper Ian Hayter (41) were the only home batsmen to make much progress. Simon Ashplant (2-16) and Darryn Mortimer (2-27) were the pick of the visiting bowlers. Mortimer the struck an imperious 95 with Russell Discombe providing the best of the rest in terms of support with a knock of 18 as Sandford reached a three wickets win in relative comfort.

Heathcoat powered their way to 312-6 at Braunton and then bowled the home side out for 160. Alistair Birt-Mitchell (72), Lee Dixon (71) and Sam Smith (51), led the visitors to their imposing total. Chris Brigden was the pick of the home bowlers with 3-23. The hosts were then forced to bat with ten after one of their number departed ill. The ten men battled valiantly, losing their final wicket at 160. John Higgs top scored with 48 whilst Dillon Penberthy claimed 3-8 for the Mid Devon men.

Filleigh and Hatherleigh served up a run feast with almost 650 runs scored between them on a wonderful Hatherleigh batting strip. Jaz Kalsi and Simon Prideaux both registered centuries for the visitor’s whist Andrew Collier claimed a four wicket haul. The hosts needed 200 off the last twenty overs, and 100 from the final ten, and, some explosive hitting from Andrew Fishleigh (46) and Sean Letheren (35), took them mighty close before the reply ran out of steam. Gareth Tidball (61), Jack Cherrington (35) and Robert Chatham (30) all chipped in, in the run chase.

DIVISION TWO

Incorrigibles were 26 run winners in their home meeting with Beaford.

Ryan Bowden (78) provided the bulk of the Witheridge side’s total of 138. Paul Heard was the pick of the visiting bowlers with 2-6 from, nine splendid overs. Alistair McMillan then hit 48 in the reply but wickets tumbled, four of them going to Jamie Tapper in 8.2 overs, six of which were maidens, leaving him with the excellent figures of 4-4, as the reply closed on 112.

Shebbear won at Shobrooke Park where they were bowled out for 228 and then dismissed the hosts for 179. Oliver Wicket top scored for the visitors with 106 whilst Ben Stockton (3-27) and Andy Steer (3-59) claimed wickets. Pete Steer then top scored with 61 and Stockton completed a fine all-round effort with 39 in the reply which floundered on 179. Andy Bryan bagged a brace of wickets for his side.

DIVISION THREE

Halberton are the new leaders after they inflicted a second defeat of the season on hosts Newton Tracey II. The star of the show for the Mid Devon men was once again Dan Coles who struck his fourth league century this term with 102 of his sides 239-6. Sam Franks then claimed 5-18 as the home side were bundled out for just 78, 32 of which came from extras! The best with the bat for the well beaten hosts was a knock of 16 from Graham Persson.

Sandford II did their promotion chances no harm with a 41 run Creedy Park success against Bideford II. Bradley Discombe (56), Pete Whitby (49) and Steve Morrish (37) led Sandford to 211-7. Pete Shepherd claimed 4-42 for Bideford who were then restricted to 170-9 with John Weeks the only batsmen to trouble the scorers for too long with 35. Gary Abdul picked up three wickets for the home side.

North Devon II fielded a very strong side for their game at Bratton Fleming to the extent that the hosts were beaten by eight wickets. Batting first, only James Thomas (22), Paddy Dartnoll (14) and Steven Ayre (12) were able to make much progress as Casey Elliott claimed 3-15. Dan Bowser then hit an unbeaten 46 to lead the successful run chase. James Tapp took 1-11 in seven excellent overs for the hosts.

Bude were three wicket winners at Holsworthy where they bowled the hosts out for 154 and knocked them off for the loss of seven wickets.

DIVISION FOUR

Division Four now sport the one last remaining unbeaten record this season throughout the league, that held by table topping Belstone who were not in action. Everybody else in the section was, and, the most enthralling contest was at North Molton where Lynton and Lynmouth were edged out by just three runs in a low scoring affair. North Molton batted first and were bundled out for 138 with only Matt Geen (29) and Dom Ford (28) spending any respectable time at the wicket as Peter Druce ran through the home line-up claiming seven wickets to finish with figures of 7-20. It was not enough to see him on the winning side though as his team were then bowled out for 135. Eli Hobbs top scored with 35 whilst Dom Ford completed a fine all-round game with figures of 3-6 from his nine overs.

Mike Braund hit 47 and Lee Merrick an unbeaten 46 as Westleigh ran out emphatic nine wicket winners at Victoria Park II where they bowled the home side out for 114 with James Corry (3-7) and Sean Floyd (3-18) doing the damage. Andy Jeffrey (24) and Tim Lane (21) were the providers of the biggest individual scores for the home side.

Kelseymen were 21 run winners at Barnstaple and Pilton. Mark Lathwell emerged from his retirement to open the batting for Kelseymen with his son Sam. The pair put on 37 before young Lathwell departed for 6 but dad went on to hit the visitors top score of 80. Wayne Manning chipped in with 51 as Kelseymen closed on 206-7. Yaz Iqbal and Matt Clarke both bagged braces of wickets for Barum who then closed on 185-9 with Andrew Fewings (47) and Matt Clark (37no) and James Rowe (23no) the principle run getters. Walid Iqbal was the most successful of the visiting bowlers with 4-17.

Dave Tribe (79) and Tom Ansell (44) led North Devon III to an imposing 265-7 at home to Petrockstowe. Ian Cockwill took 3-27 for the visitors and then top scored with 57 but his side could only muster a total of 227-8, Eddie Mann claiming 3-32 from his nine overs for the home side.

DIVISION FIVE

Brady Saunders provided the match winning all-round contribution as Barnstaple and Pilton II landed only their second success of the season with a 62 run win at Ilfracombe. Saunders (52) and Brian Rowe (35) led Barum to 160-4. Saunders then claimed 2-15 and there were wickets also for skipper Dave Loder (2-13) and Sean East (2-16) as Ilfracombe, with the exception of Mark Cavanagh, lost wickets at regular intervals, the final one falling at 98 as Ilfracombe tasted defeat for only the second time this term.

Nomansland were beaten for the first time this season and also lost top sport in Division Five when beaten by 55 runs at Heathcoat II. Will Brown (42) and Pete Guest (30) were the principle run getters in the Tiverton sides 185. Jack McGovern took three wickets for the Witheridge outfit who were then bundled out for 130 despite a fine 60 from Chris Coles. Jamie Drew took 3-28 for the victorious hoists.

Filleigh III are the new leaders of the basement Division. John Ralph hit 102 and there was a splendid unbeaten 90 from John Harrison as they chalked up 315-5 at home to Cheriton Fitzpaine. Young McCauley Harrison-Hooton also chipped in with 39 whilst John Pitt took 3-60 for the Cherries who replied with 147-9. Jim Cutler scored 30 for the Mid Devon men whist the pick of the bowlers was 13-year old Millie Squire who sent down nine excellent overs and returned figures of 2-22.

POINTS DEDUCTIONS

SOME clubs in the North Devon League will have noticed that they have been docked a considerable number of points for fielding ineligible players.

Secretary Gary Hudson explained saying: “it’s long been a serious bone of contention with the committee that, despite numerous warnings about the registration process, clubs are still fielding unregistered players and enough is enough. If a team plays a player who is not registered then they will lose all the points they gained in that particular match.

The hardest hit side have been Division One outfit Heathcoat who have been docked 22 points across the three games they played unregistered players in. Division Two Shobrooke Park and Division Three sides Sandford II and Filleigh II as well as Division Four outfits North Devon III and North Molton together with basement sides Heathcoat II and Bishops Nympton, have all also been docked points for playing unregistered players.

T20 FINALS NIGHT

THE final of the North Deon Tenty20 is being played on Friday Night (July 1) at Barnstaple and Pilton.

North Devon and Newton Tracey go head to head to determine the area champions and Barum are putting on a barbecue and the bar will also be open.