SKIPPER Rob Hutchings literally led Chardstock to an eight-wicket win over Feniton with an unbeaten 165.
It was the Chardstock captain's 12th league ton in 13 seasons with the club – and a personal best. His benchmark was 144 not out against Woodbury & Newton St Cyres in 2023.
Feniton made a respectable 266 for seven with runs sprinkled between Chris Jebb (54), Matt Davies (82) and Joe Blackmore (31). Jebb and Davies put on 86.
Tom Warren (3-40) topped Feniton’s bowling returns. Hutchings had two for 28.
Chardstock were eight for two when Martin Langford was joined in the middle by his captain. Their unbroken stand of 260 saw Chardstock home and dry with overs to spare.
Langford was still there on 76 not out when the winning runs were scored. It was third score of 50 or more in a row. The one before that was a near miss of 49!
While Chardstock can look forward to a top-four finish, Feniton are involved in a fight for survival. They play bottom side Heathcoat 3rd XI this Saturday in a game neither can afford to lose.
TAIL-enders Heathcoat 3rd XI defeated Sidbury by 107 runs to keep their survival hopes alive.
It was Heathcoat’s second win in a row and moved them within 20 points of safety in the relegation scrap with Clyst Hydon, Feniton and Honiton, all of whom lost in the latest round of matches.
Richard Pugsley (48) and Will Edwards (54) put on 110 for Heathcoat’s second wicket towards a total of 237 for eight. Veteran Paul Elliott (52) turned things round after a collapse from 126 for two to 138 for six.
Alex Paget (3-46) and Simon Rowe (2-44) were the bowlers who did the damage.
Sidbury’s run chase never really got out of first gear as they meandered from 25 for three to 89 for seven and on to 130 all out. Only Soren Hall (23) and Rowe (29) made much headway.
Josh Kallaway (4-17) dominated the nine-over bowling stats. Matt Harrison (2-38) and Himanshu Aligh (2-32) more than played a part.
DAVE Baldock was the man of the moment for Thorverton 2nd XI in their four-wicket win over E East strugglers Clyst Hydon.
Baldock’s first intervention was to break and second-wicket stand of 126 by dismissing Graham Trude for 54.
Three more wickets followed – Harish Reshi (48) among them – on the way to a four-for-38 haul. And he ran-out opener Louis Marks, who did not actually face a ball.
Keith Herselman (47) chipped in towards Hydon’s final total of 216 for eight. Thirty-six extras helped
Andrew Daldoph (24) and Oli Hawke (45) got Thors as far as 40 for two, which was when Baldock strode out to bat.
Baldock belted 102 not out from 80 balls faced – 10 fours, six sixes – as Thors raced to victory with more than eight overs to spare.
Will Thornton (2-28) was the only Hydon bowler to work at less than five runs an over.
While Thorverton are on course for a top-four finish at the very least. Hydon need to start winning games to clamber out of the bottom two.
CULMSTOCK can feel the heat at the top of the E East table following a 16-run defeat bt chasers Woodbury & Newton St Cyres.
The one-two at the top remains Culmstock then Woodbury, but the gap between them has narrowed from ten points to one.
Steve Boundy (93) and born-again batter James Kavanagh (49) put on 110 for W&NSC towards their all-out total of 208. Kavanagh, playing regularly again after almost a decade out of serious cricket, is averaging more than 30 during his comeback.
Sid Berry (3-60) accounted for Boundy and Kavanagh in his figures. Paul Hardy (3-32) got into the middle order.
Culmstock lost their way on the chase after Ross Stickland (21), Matt Summerfield (31) and Will Hattton (25) came and went. Martin Pearce (3-44) and Becca Silk (2-15) were largely responsible.
Gabe Tonkin (67no) led a lower-order revival, but there was too much to do and Culmstock ran out of time on 192 for seven.
OPENER Andrew Hart helped himself to a century and some to put Newton Tracey out of sight against Honiton.
Hard belted 24 fours and two sixes – that’s 108 in boundaries – on his way to 147 off 126 balls.
Stands of 70 with Kieran Soper (29) and 144 with Martin Gear (67) helped Tracey reach 343 for seven.
Adam Holmes’ figures of three for 57, and Alan Ostler’s two for 48, were quite respectable I the context of the punishment being handed out.
Honiton got as far as 201 for seven in reply – and maximum batting points despite a 142-run defeat – before their overs ran out.
Openers Dave Haysom (41) and Andy Canniford (37) led from the top. Best of the rest was Rob Ingham’s 41 not out.
Rob Gear (3-32) was the most successful Newton Tracey bowler.
