South Four: South Devon have one foot in the play-offs following win over Chelston & Kingskerswell

James Allen – runs and wickets for the South Devon skipper in the win over Ipplepen

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

SOUTH Devon are virtually assured of a place in the Tier Four play-offs following their six-wicket win over Chelston & Kingskerswell.

Lahiru Samaradivakara had an afternoon to remember with the ball as he picked up four C&K wickets for 25 runs as the villagers subsided to 110 all out.

Chelston & Kingskerswell were 47 for seven at one stage after a going over from Samaradivakara, James Allen (2-27) and Kalen Warne (2-36).

A battling 48 down the order from Mark Faulkner staved off total collapse.

South Devon’s chase was not without its worries as opener Allen watched from his end as Jonty Tupman, Matt Beasant and Liam Price got out at the other.

Paul Hooper stuck around to make 26 not out in a stand of 37 with Allen (58) that made the result a formality.

The arithmetic of South Devon’s (15.8pts) situation is they cannot be overhauled by second-placed Babbacombe (15.75) whatever the result when the sides meet at Walls Hill this Saturday.

However, there have been revisions of tables already due to inputting errors and with a margin of just five hundredths of a point South Devon skipper Allen would feel more comfortable with one more win.

TIM Goodwin put away his maiden league century in Babbacombe’s 68-run win over Ipplepen.

Goodwin has been converted from an opening batsman into an opening bowler this season and the transformation has clearly worked.

In three trips to the middle Goodwin has made 35 not out, 55 and now 125 not out for an impressive average of 215!

Goodwin did not have much support against the Pens as skipper Rob Redding (24) was the only other batter to make more than six!

Will Castleton’s return to cricket with Ipplepen after a lengthy break continued with a three-for-37 haul.

Ipplepen lurched from 56 for three to 79 for six then 119 for eight, nine and ten.

Ben Holroyd (36) put up a fight before Ben Passmore winkled him out.

Passmore, Sree Sreejith, Steve Broad, Paul Bates and Goodwin all took two wickets each.