Ipplepen grab share of top spot in B Division

Anchorman Steve Pritchard, who put Seaton on course against Thorverton with a half-century

IPPLEPEN have a share of top spot in the B Division following a six-wicket run-rate win over visiting Chudleigh.

Chudleigh reached 203 for nine in 43 overs thanks largely to Jack Beer (33), skipper Matt Heather (56) and a quick 21 from Rob Clarke. Beer and Heather put on 74 for the second wicket.

Four Ipplepen bowlers took two wickets each. Marcus Green (9-2-23-2) posted the best figures. Callum Stanley kept it tight.

Aiden Phillips and Tom Durman bowled good opening spells and were unlucky not to end up with more wickets. 

Ipplepen needed 180 to win on run rate in 38 overs and got there with nearly 10 overs to spare. Gareth Penrice (47) and Callum Stanley (32no) made the early inroads, which left Sam Wakeham to blast a match-winning 57 off 27 balls.

Wakeham’s 80-run stand with Stanley blew Chudleigh out of the game.

“It was a very important 19 points for us that keeps us at the top of a tight table,” said Pens’ skipper Wakeham

“At various points in the game it was difficult to see who was going to come out on top.

“We were confident chasing 200 but with a bit of rain at tea the game was reduced to 38 overs and the target was 180.

“Gareth Penrice and David Harris got us of to a flying start, which always helps when the weather is a bit dodgy.”

Pens are away to their joint-leadership partners Seaton this Saturday.

Chudleigh have drifted within two points of the drop spots having lost their last three games.

Skipper Heather said the pressure is on when second-bottom Bovey Tracey visit this Saturday.

“It is a big game for us and hopefully it can be a turning point for our season,” said Heather.

“We need to perform in all three disciplines if we want to start winning games. “This week we batted better, but bowled and fielded poorly.”

THORVERTON missed out on the chance to go second in the table when they lost by 36 runs to promotion rivals Seaton.

Stephen Pritchard hit nine fours on his way to a top score of 52 in Seaton’s modest total of 167 for seven.

Joel Seward (25) and skipper Ben Morgan (23) chipped in after Pritchard fell to Jake Choules (3-47).

Thors slumped to 36 for six in reply and, despite a mini-fightback engineered by Ben Coe (44) and Dave Baldock (31), were all out for 131.

Wes Holmes (3-28) led the bowling effort for Seaton, aided by brother Daley (2-33) and Seward (2-24)

Seaton stay second in the table behind leaders Ipplepen. Thorverton have dropped from third to fifth.

Andy Pitt, the Thoverton skipper, said he knew exactly what had gone wrong.

“After restricting Seaton to 167 we were happy at half way as we believed it was well below par,” said Pitt.

“Then us, as the top order, let the whole team down by giving our wickets away. 

“Being 36 for six and only ending up 30 runs short was embarrassing really.

“We all know had we batted sensibly we should have scored the runs easily.”

Seaton skipper Ben Morgan described it as ‘Another very good team performance’. 

Morgan added: “Our batting was held together by a very good knock from Steve Pritchard, everyone else chipped in and runs on the board was key. 

“We bowled good areas and held on to our catches and stayed on top after they lost a couple of early wickets.

“Also a very good all-round debut from Daley Holmes, who took a couple of wickets and chipped in with 15 not out at the end of our innings.”

TODD Scrace bagged five wickets and there were three more for Brendon Parr in Cullompton’s 117-run win at Brixham.

Dhanan Lakshan (6-38) posed problems at both ends of the Cully innings, but in between the visitors did enough to reach 169 all out.

Cully fought back from 28 for three to 151 for five with Jason Parr (34), Brendon Parr (51) and Darren Putt (21) making runs.

When Lakshan returned for his second spell the last five wickets went for just 18 runs.

Cully got just the start they wanted when Brixham’s  Sri Lankan pro Lakshan was dismissed by Jason Parr in the first over.

Only opener Mike Barron (14) reached double figures as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. The last five fell for six runs scored as Brixham were dismissed for 52.

Cullompton, who have no game this Saturday, are fifth in the table, but only four points behind leaders Ipplepen.

PLYMSTOCK bounced back from their defeat at Seaton with a workmanlike four-wicket win over visiting Kilmington.

In the log jam at the top of the table Plymstock are now one of four teams separated by four points in a breakaway group.

Kilmington got to 98 for two without too many issues – Tom Gooding (21), Matt Rockett (34) and Billy Reed (27) all getting runs – then stumbled to 115 for five and 126 for eight.

Spinner Ian Whalley did most of the damage on his way to a five-for-36 haul.

Rob Crab (24) dug in for a while before he was spun out by James Nicholls (3-29) as the tail was wrapped up.

Nicholls (20), Karl Vendrasco (25) and Hal Kerton (50) appeared to be making light work of the run chase in a running total of 111 for two.

Gooding (3-39) and Ollie Reed (2-35) changed the pace of the game as Plymstock slowed to 131 for five and the home side were glad of Tom Mitch’s unbeaten 24 for seeing them through.

Vice-captain Nicholls said: “Historically we are good at home and we want to make it a tricky place for teams to come to,” said Nicholls.

“If we are being honest we weren't great again. We bowled poorly and should not have let them get up to where they did.

“We were lazy in the field and again didn't take enough responsibility with the bat. 

“Saying that Hal batted brilliantly and found the boundary with ease and teddy showed a steady head with Tom Mitch to see us home. 

“We know we will have to perform better at Thorverton this Saturday.”