Blights Motors North Devon League round-up: Pugsley and Pugsley kept busy for Heathcoat in win over North Devon
A THREE-way title battle is developing at the top of the Blights Motors NDL Division One between Sandford, Heathcoat, and Hatherleigh.
Leaders Sandford benefited from a walk-over as Westleigh were unable to raise a side.
Second-placed Heathcoat, who are defending the title they won last season, defeated a youthful North Devon side by 73-runs in the Sandhills at Instow.
Heathcoat, who were asked to bat first, amassed a 40 over total of 251 for six. There were runs through the card, none better than 73 from Archie Goodrick, who shared an opening partnership of 107 with captain Dan Pugsley (48),
North Devon captain James Tyson employed eight bowlers, himself included, trying to slow things down. He took two wickets, as did Issie Ollis, who took a magnificent boundary catch.
North Devon's reply was led by Jack Moore, who hit a rapid 69. After he was trapped in front by Pugsley (2-6) the home side limped to an all-out score of 178.
Tyson hit a brief 37, and Richard Clarke chipped in with 21. James Pugsley took the bowling plaudits with three for 33. Ben Shepherd and Dan Pugsley had a couple each.
Third-placed Hatherleigh lost at home by seven wickets to Bideford, who made light work of chasing 197 to win,
Hatherleigh racked-up an all-out score of 196, thanks in the main to Shreyansh Ghosh, who retired after hitting 104, of which 56 came in boundaries.
Ghosh shared a 101-run partnership for the third wicket with Ruben Forrester (44). However, apart from 25 extras, there was no other double-figure score.
Bideford skipper Jack Ford (4-16 off 8) took the bowling honours. Fawaz Gallie (3-33) backed him up and there were a couple for Marcus Bulled.
Bideford got the runs in a hurry. Gallie (69) and super veteran James Ford (47) opened with a stand of 122,
Hatherleigh briefly fought back with three wickets for 17 runs, Martin Quick taking a couple, but that hastened Marcus Bulled to the crease. He hit 45 not out from 22 balls to see his team to victory with more than 11 overs to spare.
DIVISION Two frontrunners Nomansland and Newton Tracey maintained their 100 per cent records with wins over Barnstaple & Pilton and Braunton respectively.
Nomansland hosted Barnstaple & Pilton and won a low-scoring affair by five wickets.
Barnstaple & Pilton struggled against all the home bowlers. Will Bucknell (4-9) was the stand out; Jacob Cole took three for two and William Martin chipped in two for 15, as B&P were bundled out for 72 in 35 overs.
Barnstaple & Pilton only got as far as they did thanks to the Chugg clan scoring the bulk of their runs. Dominic scored 26, Ruben 16 and the ‘old man’ Jeremy a lesser seven. Twenty extras helped the cause
Nomansland got the runs in a hurry, despite the bowling efforts of Febin Francis (3-38) and Frankie Allen (2-10). Elliot Butterfield hit a rapid 34, and Will Bucknell 22 as Nomansland reached their target at the start of the 11th over.
Newton Tracey defeated Braunton by eight wickets at the Lawn
Braunton were reduced to 89 for eight by the Newton attack with Justin Vincent (24) making the only serious contribution.
Jobin Franklin, batting at 10, led the recovery with 51 helped by Paul Derbyshire (37) which helped Braunton reach 160 all out.
There were three wickets for Shubham Shubham, and a couple each for Tim Watson, and Rumitkumar Patel.
Newton didn't hang about in the chase. Skipper Dom Robson opened with 66, Graham Person (46) and Sumit Ghangas with a rapid 21 saw Newton victorious with more than 15 overs in hand.
Lynton and Lynmouth made the long trip to Holsworthy worthwhile by winning another low-scoring match by four wickets.
Ryan Seymour-Smith (14) was the only Holsworthy batter to get into double figures in a meagre total of 57 all out.
Will Austen (5-27) starred with the ball for the visitors. Vishnu Kombath took three for 17 and Robin Holland two for five.
The visitors' chase was not without its alarms, almost exclusively caused by opening bowler Jack Greening. He dismissed Josh Searle with his first ball and finished with figures of three for two from eight overs.
Adam Lovejoy supported Greening with three for five. Ultimately, the visitors ran-out winners with plenty of overs in hand. Kombath top scored in the match with 20.
Victoria Park travelled to Exford, where they won by 16 runs
Park constructed a 40-over total of 133 for nine. Extras top scored with 36, Mark Paul hit 31 not out, and Adrian Scarret scored 30.
Ella Beauchamp was the pick of the bowlers. She took two for eight off eight overs. Paul Jones had a brace.
Exford struggled against the bowling of Rijo Roy (3-14) and Justin Joseph (3-2). Oli Ahern top scored with 36, and Sam Price hit 27, but their efforts were in vain as they were all out for 117 in the 36th over.
Travel Chapter T20 KO Cup
Westleigh 140-8 [Steffan James 55, Will Speed 26; Greg Solkin 3-18), Hatherleigh 142-7 (Ryan Quick 41, Greg Solkin 27; Paul Schiller 3-16). Hatherleigh (2pts) bt Westleigh (0) by 3 wkts.
