HEATHCOAT’S lower-order batsmen stayed calm under pressure to seal a significant two-wicket win over Hatherleigh.
The significance of the win for the leaders was that it opened up an 11-point lead over second-placed Sidmouth, who lost a high-scoring encounter with Plymouth. Previously, there had only been a point in it.
Hatherleigh totalled 183 all out with 14 balls to go of their 50 overs – Gareth Tidball (46) and Charlie Nielson (44) showing the way with the bat. Jackson Thompson (4-36) was Heathcoat’s leading bowler.
Tidball and Nielson rescued Hatherleigh from an unimpressive 76 for four with a stand of 86 that took the tally to 162 for five.
Thompson then wreaked havoc in the lower order as Hatherleigh lost six wickets for 21 runs. None of the incoming batters lasted longer than six balls!
After Heathcoat had subsided to 77 for seven in reply, Sean Letheren (3-39) and Simon Gillespie (2-33) taking wickets, a Hatherleigh win looked on the cards.
Eighth-wicket pair Jamie Drew (43no) and Malcolm Cloete (44) turned the game with a stand of 71 that took Heathcoat in sight of victory.
The returning Lethern broke the stand with 36 needed. Christian Cabburn (14no) helped Drew get Heathcoat over the line.
Peter Randerson, the Heathcoat captain, said: “It was a game a lot of our lads will not forget for a long time.
“Hatherleigh outplayed us for large parts and anything between 180-200 was a good score on a poor pitch.
“On a good wicket, Malcolm and Jamie’s knocks would have been worth 80 or more.
“Jamie, Jack, Malcolm and Christian were fantastic. It was great to win when we played averagely.
“Now we look forward to Sidmouth at home.”
Mark Lake, the Hatherleigh captain, felt frustrated at seeing a likely win slip away.
“We had the game won after 35 overs of their innings and it was a game we fully deserved to win,” said Lake.
“Good sides win games from positions they shouldn't and that is what Heathcoat did.
“It would have been a massive win for us, but it was one that got away.”
