BRAUNTON have opened-up a 22-point gap over Exeter 2nd XI at the top of the C Division East table after beating the County Grounders by 98 runs.
In a division with only one promotion place, that’s a sizeable lead to hold so early in the season.
Braunton started hesitantly – Exeter’s Aashay Dube (3-40) took two early wickets – but runs from Steve Aston (35) and captain Callum Mitchell (44) got them going.
Peter Needham, in at 66 for three, kept the board ticking over with 36 and Teriq Worrell got in the act with 33.
A couple of wickets for Pete Hensor (2-38) slowed Braunton briefly, but Sam Lathwell upped the tempo with a brisk 50 not out that took Braunton to 237 for eight.
Exeter ran into all sorts of trouble against Braunton’s new-ball operator Dan Brierley, who was solely responsible for reducing them to 34 for four.
Dube (60) and Alex Tipper (12) regrouped and at 95 for five Exeter were still in the game.
Once Dube fell to Graham Moore (3-18) Exeter went into a sharp decline as they slid to 139 all out.
WILL Gingell hit a century – and skipper Richard Baggs was two runs short of another – in Exmouth 2nd XI’s 269-run demolition job on Sidmouth 2nd XI.
Team-raising problems meant Sidmouth were under pressure before they arrived at the Maer – and playing a man short was a handicap.
Exmouth raced along to 361 for three in 45 overs, then skittled Sidmouth for 92.
Opener Gingell batted from start to finish for 136 not out, which came off 119 balls and included a six and 19 fours.
Baggs, who shared an opening stand of 164 with Gingell, raced to 98 from 67 balls. He hit 84 in boundaries. A century looked there for the taking when Baggs went after Syam Manakkad once too often and was caught at short third-man by Hugo Brock.
“There were 29 overs to go when I got out,” mused Baggs, as he reflected on what might have been…
Sam Radford, who made a run-a-ball 40, was at the other end during a stand of 86 with Gingell.
Joe Trickey (21) had the only notable score for Sidmouth during their 30.3 over stay.
Assad Ullah (2-11) and Greg Marks (2-23) got into the bulk of the batting, then left Andrew Murray (3-21) to pick off the stragglers.
Exmouth remain fourth in the table. Sidmouth are destined for at least one more week in the bottom two.
HEATHCOAT 2nd XI’s tough time at the wrong end of the C Division East continued with a one-wicket defeat in. low-scoring affair against Seaton.
Heathcoat’s prospect looked gloomy after they were skittled out for 92. Only Harvey Cronksaw with 19 off 40 balls made much head with the bat for Heathcoat.
Next best in the batting line-up with 17 was Jack Tucker.
Former Seaton captain Ben Morgan (3-17), current skipper Joe Berry (3-14) and Adam Bilston (3-16) were the tormentors with the ball.
Seaton’s frontline batting vanished at the sight of Josh Kallaway (3-27) and got into plenty of trouble against Jack Tucker (3-26). His figures would have looked better without the inclusion of 30 extras.
Morgan (21no) got Seaton over the line eventually, although it got a bit hairy when wickets eight and nine fell to Tucker two balls apart on 92.
ALPHINGTON & Countess Wear overcame Ottery St Mary by five wickets after hustling them out for 124.
Will Ruddell (2-34) and Ross Todhunter (2-25) accounted for the majority of Ottery’s middle order, then Mark Halse (4-10) dealt with the remnants of the batting lower down.
Last man out Jody Clements (24) and Rhys Norman (25) were the main Ottery run getters.
Lawrence Marsh made a wary 30 not out from 85 balls faced to steer Alphington & Countess Wear to victory.
Halse hammered out a claim for man of the match with 33 not out during a match-winning stand of 35 with Marsh.
Sam Rose (3-39) was Ottery’s bowling success story.
BUDLEIGH Salterton 2nd XI remain winless and rooted to the foot of the C East standings following a 15-run defeat at Uplyme & Lyme Regis.
Dan Magee (94) and Alfie Jaques (69) put on 142 for the second wicket towards Uplyme’s total of 249 for seven. Joe Elsworth (20) chipped in.
Sean Butler (2-42) and Joel Murphy (2-55) were Budleigh’s main wicket takers. Kamalakar Posapalli (1-24) bowled nine controlled overs.
Budleigh had it all to do after slipping to 49 for four in reply – and very nearly did it!
Donovan Robinson (87) and Posapalli put on 68, followed by Sean Butler (33) keeping the chase alive until the final few overs.
Preston Hilless (3-24) was Uplyme’s most consistent bowler.
