Kilmington 2nd XI travelled to North Devon 3rds at Westleigh, buoyed by their first win of the season in week 3 vs Newton Tracey. Westleigh have endured a torrid few years with arson horrendously being meted out to a lovely village clubhouse for no apparent reason, on more than one occasion.
Ash Cook won the toss for the away side and inserted North Devon 3rds, who then got off to a bit of a flyer thanks to Tom Carter (32) and, particularly, Ruby Davis (46), who batted very fluently, particularly through the leg side.
Rob Mann (31) and skipper Richard Clarke (22) chipped in but the home team collapsed from 148-3 to 161-9 against Ben Fuzzard (3-34), Louis Cook (3-34) and Mike Summers (2-32), who seemed to have swung the pendulum decisively in Kilmington’s favour.
161 should have been as far as the innings got, but a spilled chance handed Muzahidul Islam (43*) the opportunity the wade into the bowling and smash five fours and three sixes off only 18 balls before the final wicket fell at the other end to end the innings at 212 all out.
Islam might reasonably expect to bat a bit higher than number nine next week.
Pick of the Kilmington bowling was probably Dean Wills (1-19) who pulled the run rate back when North Devon were threatening to cut loose.
Feeling somewhat deflated, having to chase 50 more than they might have expected, Kilmington lost Kiran Srikantaprasad (18) at 24-1, but two of the five Cooks on display for Kilmington, David (50) and Hal (61), added 95 for the 2nd wicket.
David added a second fifty of the season, and Hal, who often looks a million dollars just before getting out, really applied himself to the job in hand. Wickets did start to tumble at the other end but Fuzzard (45), for the second week running, batted really well and with controlled power to remain unbeaten and guide Kilmington to a 2 wicket victory in the company of the experienced Summers (1*).
Islam (2-31) was probably pick of the North Devon bowlers, to add to his explosive batting.
North Devon felt that if they could have removed Fuzzard, they would have won, but alas they did not. Another good win for the Kestrels, who have now soared up to mid table.
