HEATHCOAT moved-up to third place in the A Division table when they swamped Budleigh Salterton by 133 runs.

Jamie Drew, the Heathcoat captain, felt his side’s total of 216 for nine was worth more than it looked on a surface difficult to bat on. He may have had a point as Budleigh were skittled for 83.

Heathcoat are now third in the rankings with 24 points to make-up if they are going to catch Torquay & Kingskerswell on the last lap of the promotion race. Budleigh, who were third, are 10 points behind in fourth.

Tom Hatton (33), Dylan Penberthy-Hutchings (24) and Dan Butler (26) made top-three runs for Heathcoat before Simaant Dubey (3-29) and Ed Doble (2-28) reduced the tempo.

Finn Stoneman (31) and Dan Pugsley (46) gave Heathcoat a useful shove with a 79-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Budleigh’s top-half batting was picked apart by a combination of Tom Hatton (4-21) and Drew (3-26). A matching pair of 17s from the Doble brothers was as good as it got.

Said Drew: “To score 216 on a very tricky pitch was a serious effort. 

“Finn Stoneman and Dan Pugsley putting on 79 for the eighth wicket really helped drag the momentum our way after a middle-order collapse. 

“Taking six wickets in 13 balls really killed the game. Dan Butler moving like a cat taking three catches at short leg was definitely a highlight of the match. 

“Tom Hatton continued his form taking four wickets on a pitch that was perfect for him.

“Overall very happy with another positive performance.”

Ed Doble, the Budleigh captain, said: “Not much to say really, other than well played Heathcoat.”