Dangerman Dinesh Raheja - one of Alex Carr's scalps in Plympton's win over Ivybridge. Photo: Mark Lockett<br>credit: https://www.flickr.com/gp/marklucylockett/g77739

CORNWOOD picked up a predictable win in the top-against-bottom clash with Abbotskerswell at Two Mile Oak.

Skipper Nick Watkin held it together for lowly Abbots with 63 not out off 107 balls – just six boundaries in there – in a total of 201 all out.

Stands that mattered were 60 between Watkin and Elliott Adams (28) and 65 with Charlie Dowling (42).

Wickets went three by three to Matt Skeemer (3-22), Adam Goodliffe (3-31) and Elliott Staddon (3-34).

Staddon went in at 68 for two after Ryan Rickard (34) and Aaron Richards (28) gave Cornwood a start, and batted through to the end.

A stand of 58 with Ben Beaumont (35) went a long way towards winning the game for the leaders.

Noah Tobias (3-42) was Abbots only bowler with more than two wickets.

Cornwood remain eight points clear at the top of the A Division table.

Abbots are still bottom but take some comfort from defeats for Ivybridge and Bideford, otherwise they would be even further behind.

“It was a hugely-improved performance and had we managed 30 more runs I am confident we would have won,” said Watkin, referring to the seven-wicket pasting at Ivybridge seven days earlier.

“Unfortunately, we lost wickets just when we looked capable of posting a bigger score. 

“I thought we bowled and fielded well on the whole. James Williams in particular, is bowling exceptionally well at present. 

I feel if we play to this standard for rest of the season we will win more games than we lose.”

BEN Privett hit an unbeaten ton and there were half-centuries for Elliott Hamilon and Justin Wubbeling in Plympton’s 179-run win over Ivybridge.

Privett reached his ton the hard way with just six boundaries and completed it four balls into Plympton’s 50th over.

Hamilton (52), Wubbeling (50) and Harry Kandampully (40) all contributed to a sizeable total of 296 for five.

Ivybridge were all out for 117 with more than 16 over to go. Opener Adam Huxtable lasted one ball and tidy bowling from Alex Carr (3-27) reduced the Bridge to 34 for three. Limpet-like Dinesh Raheja was among Carr’s victims.

Josh Zimmerman (23) and Dudo Zondo (45) put up a fight, but wickets fell steadily to man-of-the-match Privett (3-10) and Will Scott-Munden. The last four went for a mere seven runs.

Plympton moved up to sixth and have 14 points between them and the second relegation place, currently occupied by Ivybridge.

HATHERLEIGH kept the pressure up on top three Cornwood, Bradninch and Budleigh with a 11-run win over Tavistock.

Hatherleigh were all out for 251 in the last of their 50 overs.

Openers Ryan Davies (38) and Rob Fishleigh (36) got Hatherleigh up and running, Tini Mutombodzi (68) held mid-innings together and Rob Cockwill added 40 after drinks.

A third-wicket stand of 114 between Billy Barriball (68) and James White (52) got Tavvy motoring after a slow start.

Dave Manning carved 52 off 45 balls but needed someone to stay with him to get Tavistock over the line.

Mark Lake, the Hatherleigh captain, said: “It was a very good win against a good side. 

“We could have made it easier for ourselves and scored more runs from the position we were in. 

“During the last 20 overs we were superb with the ball and in the field.”

For Tavistock captain Shaun Daymond it was one that got away.

“We bowled and fielded very averagely again, but managed to get them out for a reasonable total,” said Daymond.

“Two-five-two on our ground isn't a massive score, but we just lacked a little scoring in the middle stages, leaving us too much to do against a good bowling side.”

BARTON were second best by a distance against visiting Budleigh Salterton, who took a 113-run win home from Cricketfield Road.

Barton seamer Rob Shergold dismissed Budleigh opener Marc Troman third ball, then little else went right for 49 and a half overs!

James Doble (66) and Ed Doble (33) put in 87 then James Doble and Tari Musakanda (88no) hoisted 63 more.

Tom Oxland (29) and Lloyd Murrin (30) helped Musakanda take the score to 280 for six.

Matt Crampton (1-29 off 10) and Morgan Harford (2-50) submitted the best bowling returns.

Barton appeared to be heading for an early finish as Ed Doble (2-43) and Max Mejzner (5-14 off 10) largely reduced them to 47 for four, 101 for seven and 103 for nine.

Budleigh could not shift last pair Nathan Beech (3) or last man Morgan Harford (51no), who stayed together for 18 overs adding 64 for the last wicket before Joel Murphy (2-25) broke their stand, which was two runs short of a league record.