CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING
NORTH Devon 2nd XI’s next generation of batters were the star turns in an eight-wicket win over Woodbury & Newton St Cyres.
North Devon were set 135 to win and sauntered home with more than 15 overs to spare.
Teenage opener Navindu Vanderbona stroked 72 not out from 89 balls, nine of which were dispatched to the ropes.
Vanderbona and 13-year-old Freddie Bettiss opened up with a stand of 51 that set the tone for the remainder of the reply. Bettiss (22) could rightly claim shot of the day for the effortless six he flicked away off the bowling of Peter Moisan.
Richard Wild (17no) was at the other end from Vanderbona during the unbroken stand of 70 that won the game.
Moisan and Nalin Chouhan were the only Woodbury bowlers with an economy rate below five an over.
Matt Moretta top scored for Woodbury with 29 in an all-out total of 134. Chouhan (20) chipped in the only other knock to get out of the teens.
Best of the bowling for North Devon was Simon Wright’s three for 23. Jed Foster (3-27) wasn’t far behind.
BARNSTAPLE & Pilton clambered up to second place in the D Division East with a thumping 10-wicket win over lowly Whimple in a 27-over game.
Victory took Lee Cole’s men past Budleigh Salterton 2nd XI into second spot behind leaders Bradninch & Kentisbeare.
Losing their first three wickets in the same over from George Elnough on 27 did Whimple no favours. Nathan Kidd (30) and David Culshaw (20no) managed to get the total up to 97 for nine.
Elnough (3-10) did the damage with the new ball, Justin Saker (3-18) coped with the wear-n-tear and Connor Nash (3-24) didn’t need any shine knocking over the tail.
Saker then plundered 12 fours on the way to 74 not out in the 39 minutes B&P needed to polish off the target. James Poole (22) was the other not out batter.
ALPHINGTON & Countess Wear thrashed Budleigh Salterton 2nd XI by 103 runs in one of three D Division East games played to a finish.
Ethan Goddard (92) and captain Lawrence Marsh (41) laid the foundations for Alphington & Countess Wear’s 35-over total of 250 for four with an opening stand of 121.
Jack Mills (36) and James Bovey (47) added 84 more for the fourth wicket as the runs kept coming.
Wily old pro Joel Murphy (7-0-27-1) was the lone Budleigh bowled not worked around for more than six runs an over.
Budleigh were a long way adrift on 147 for seven when their overs ran out. Sliding to 12 for three after early success for A&CW bowler Tynan Hill (3-19) did not help.
Opener Mark Troman batted from start to finish for 74 not out. Ian Taylor made 25 in a 70-run stand that was as good as it got for Budleigh.
Marsh (2-12) and Jake Pond (2-16) were Alphington & Countess Wear’s supporting acts with the ball.
