Tighter than ever at top of C West after wins for Ashburton and Bridestowe | Muzammil takes a ton off Hatherleigh

Plymouth opener James Toms gets on the front foot against Ashburton

ASHBURTON had a scrap on their hands before registering a three-wicket win over Plymouth 2nd XI in a low-scoring affair at Ballard Lane.

Plymouth were all-out for 114 with more than eight over un-bowled. Skipper John Kerridge (40) had the only score greater than 12 in the innings. 

Three wickets each for Matt Churchill and Chris Yeo proved Plymouth’s undoing. Matt Coon spun out a couple.

Kerridge (2-23) and Teddy Haffenden (2-17) made life hard for the Ashburton batsmen.

Lloyd White (31) and George Yabsley (25) made a sizeable dent in the target, which left Yeo (15no) to wrap things up.

Ashley Berry, the Ashburton captain, said "Both teams bowled and fielded very well in a low scoring event, but we had just enough to get past a tough opposition.”

Ashburton (15.20pts) are right behind current leaders Bridestowe (15.50) as the jostling continues for the one promotion place out of the division.

ABDUL Muzammil reeled off an unbeaten century for Brixham in their 103-run win over relegation-haunted Hatherleigh.

Opener Richard Ward (28) got Brixham settled then Muzammil and Rhys Dallow really kicked on.

A stand of 141 between Dallow (50) and Muzammil (115no) took Brixham to a useful total of 246 for four. Thirty wides helped.

The game got away from Hatherleigh during the time it took them to slide from 95 for four, when the had just lost Danny Forrester for a top score of 55, to 103 for six.

Cameron Rowlands (16) and Jamie Nielson (15) delayed the investable, but Muzammil (2-23) and Lee Upham (4-20) knocked over the stragglers as Hatherleigh were bowled out for 143.

PAIGNTON 2nd XI were on the wrong end of a nine-wicket scoreline in a one-sided affair against C West leaders Bridestowe.

Steve George opened up with 30 for Paignton, but only Rory Medlock (11) managed to join him. In double figures as Paignton folded to 83 all out.

Tom Boother (2-25) and Leon Horn (3-27) took care of the top order, which left Tom Pengelly (5-28) to deal with the rest.

Bridestowe lost opener James Ewen on 18 to Paignton seamer Jack Harman, but were otherwise untroubled during the 22.2 overs needed to win the game.

Phil Woods (35) and Horn (42) were the not-out batsmen when the winning post was passed.

TEIGNMOUTH & Shaldon put some distance between themselves and the bottom two with a seven-run win over fading promotion hopefuls Cornwood.

South Devon, whose game against Stoke Gabriel was a Covid-19 casualty, occupy the second relegation slot on 8.78 points per game with T&S now on 11.10. 

Teignmouth & Shaldon scored 179 all out in the 31st of their 45 overs. Tschepo Legodi top scored with 32.

Useful contributions from Dan O’Connell (21), Carl Woolnough (24) and Ben Coen (27) kept the board ticking over.

Sam Griffiths (4-40) edged out Archie Trevarthan (3-52) on the Cornwood bowling honours board.

Cornwood had it all to do after sliding to 58 for five in reply. Owen Gannon (41) and Jack Lane (19) started the catching-up process.

The tail – Lane, Griffiths (17) and Trevarthan (12) – kept going after Gannon’s departure. With victory in sight Trevarthan and James Bowden went in successive overs to give T&S victory with seven balls to spare.

That’s three defeats on the trot in a winless July for Cornwood – two games were Covid casualties – as the long-time leaders dropped down to fourth in the table.

Although Cornwood are only 0.95 of a point behind leaders Bridestowe, they have to get past Stoke Gabriel and Ashburton to reach the only promotion place out of the division.