Donovan hogs limelight with big ton and four wickets in Clyst SG win over Whimple

Alvin Pollard – three wickets for Exmouth II against Kentisbeare

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

CLYST St George charge on at the top of the C East table thanks to a 53-run win over Whimple.

Clyst’s Andrew Donovan took a ton off Whimple in a pre-season friendly and cashed in again with league points at stake with a whopping knock of 169 in a total of 286 for nine.

Donovan went in at 16 for two and by the time Nick Thornton knocked him over he had been involved in stands worth 264.

Along the way were stands of 46 with Freddie Creer (8), 60 with Jayaka Nallala (14), 80 with Par Singh (17).

Thornton (2-37) and Nathan Kidd (2-47) were the only Whimple bowlers to take more than one wicket.

Keeping up with an asking rate of more than six an over was tough for Whimple, and by the time Nathan Bright (31) and Ollie Whitton (16) added 25 in two overs from Bertie Creer and Par Singh it was too late in the day.

Oli Wellesey had not long gone for a brisk 33 – six fours in there – and with only three wickets standing the game had got away.

Skipper Cameron Kidd top scored with 52 for Whimple, who were all out for 233 in the 41st over.

Donovan sent back Kidd and Sam Jefferson (21) in his first spell and dispatched Bright and Whitton when he came back to finish with four for 32.

BRAUNTON went past Exeter 2nd XI into third place in the C Division East after beating Sandford by five wickets.

Ross Donaldson (35) top scored for Sandford with 35 and chip-ins from Chris Blake (27) and Rob Stoyle (27) got the total up to 146 all out.

Four Braunton bowlers took two wickets each: James Lake, Steve Moore, Alfie Huxtable and Andy Norman.

Braunton’s young batsman Jack Whittaker (41no) got the chase up and running. Huxtable (37) lent a helping hand.

Steve Moore, Braunton’s senior player, said a lot of the hard work was done with the ball.

“We bowled in the right areas on a decent wicket, backed up by a really impressive fielding performance,” said Moore.

“Young Whittaker batted very patiently for his 40 not out

“Credit to Sandford. They made us work hard for our win and young James Theedom bowled really well and looks a very talented cricketer.”

EXETER 2nd XI missed out on a third straight win in the C Division East when Upottery defeated them by four wickets.

Mike Wilkinson (39) and Alex Haywood (42) posted 84 for Exeter’s second wicket and a 50-run partnership between Sean Langford (34) and Adam Fradgley (35) helped the final total reach 241 for seven. Bowlers Ben Kidson (1-17) and James Mitcham (0-23) bowled nine overs each cheaply.

Kidson (28) and Matt Broom (34) got runs from the start and a stand of 103 between Broom and Mitcham (75) opened up the game.

Adam Pulman (29) nudged Upottery close then Ryan Pulman (31no) eased them over the line.

EXMOUTH 2nd XI opener Mark Ashplant did a thoroughly professional job steering his side to a four-wicket win at Ottery St Mary.

Ashplant kept going at his end while batters were coming and going at the other to take Exmouth to 123 for five chasing 173 to win.

Tom Bath (43) and Kai Higham (30no) had the win secured with more than 12 overs to go. Best of the bowlers for Ottery was Will Harrison (3-39).

Ottery looked like setting an imposing total after skipper Alex Clements (29) and Jon Trinner (21) got them to 71 without loss.

Losing five wickets for just 14 runs scored – Alvin Pollard (3-23) and Lawrence Greeway (2-35) doing the damage – slowed Ottery and despite the efforts of Sam O’Nyons (32no) and Walker (23) they could only muster 172 for five.

Losing captain Clements said that top-five collapse made it tough to set Exmouth a challenging total.

“Exmouth bowled well and we were probably 50 runs light,” said Clements. 

“Nice to see Will Harrison back on form with the ball.

“People chipped in with the bat, but we lacked someone who went on to make a big score. 

“Lessons to be learned and hopefully we grow from this.”

SHOBROOKE Park moved up the C East rankings from fourth to third despite suffering a five-wicket defeat away to Sidmouth 2nd XI.

Two of the sides ahead of Shobrooke on Saturday morning – Exeter and Exmouth – both lost too which allowed Ben Trenaman’s lads to make up some ground.

Chris Ford opened up with a studious 60 off 96 balls for Shobrooke with more runs coming down the order from Richard Pyle (63) and skipper Trenaman (50) towards a total of 236 for eight.

Jash Patidar with three for 35 was easily the most effective of the Sidmouth bowlers, although Miles Dalton’s nine overs for 26 runs were more economical.

Sidmouth won it with more than five overs to spare and appeared in control from start to finish.

Elliotr Rice (21) and Anthony Griffiths (22) started the chase, Dan Powell (76) kept it going then Nick Mansfield (20no) and Robbie Powell (43no) finished it off. Joe Harris (3-43) was Shobrooke’s leading wicket taker.

Trenaman offered no excuses for the result, but said it needed to be put into the correct context.

“We were a few players short, including Jon James and Andrew Codling, so we did well to post a competitive total,” said Trenaman.

“In hindsight we were 30-40 runs short though, especially considering that Sidmouth is a quick scoring ground and the quality they had in their batting line up. 

“In order to defend that total we really had to bowl well and limit loose balls. Unfortunately we didn't quite do that and never had the control to put them under any real pressure.

“We still played pretty well and with a stronger side available next week we're looking forward to the challenge of leaders Clyst St George.”