BIDEFORD won for the first time this season in Division One of the Blights Motors North Devon League when they defeated Hatherleigh by five wickets.
The defending champions held Hatherleigh to a 40-over total of 196 for eight after captain Jim Keates elected to field at the toss. Keates took three for 44, and Darren Hart two for 36, to keep the lid on Hatherleigh.
Hatherleigh were indebted to Jasper Presswell, for his unbeaten 105. He hit 13 fours and a six in his 114-ball stay. The only other significant contributions were Charlie Presswell’s 23 and 32 extras!
Bideford got the runs with 10 overs in hand. Marcus Bulled (51) and Will Moseby (51no) shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 104 which broke the back of the chase.
Charlies Preswell’s two for 33 was the best Hatherleigh could offer on the bowling front.
There were runs galore at Instow, where North Devon beat Bridestowe & Belstone by six wickets.
James Ewen opened for Bridestowe & Belstone and carried his bat for an unbeaten 143 in a total of 276 for four. He faced 121 balls, hitting 16 fours, and two sixes. Shaquan Glasgow contributed 79 to a 150 -run partnership.
North Devon's young bowlers struggled in the conditions. However, there were a couple of wickets for Farrell Maple-Rose, and one for Freddie Bettis.
Bettis opened the North Devon reply with Roshan Lakmal, and scored 48, in an opening partnership of 129.
Archie Malpass contributed 20 towards a stand of 101 for the third wicket, but it was Lakmal who stole the show with 170 not out from 105 balls. He bludgeoned 19 fours and seven sixes on the way to victory with a couple of overs in hand.
There was another run-fest just down the road at Westleigh, where visiting Heathcoat, won a high-scoring affair by 125 runs
Heathcoat were invited to bat, and racked up an impressive 376 for three in their 40 overs. Jeremy Bedford (101) and Harry Everett (75) put on 165 for the first wicket. Harry Southgate hit a quickfire 64 and Lewis Hough, fresh from Saturday's ton for North Molton, scored an unbeaten 77. Westleigh’s bowlers will want to forget their figures.
Westleigh gave it a go. Selwyn Fisher hit 108, and Richard Wild 51 as they reached 144 for one.
Once Fisher and Wild got out, the chase became too difficult for the home side, and their innings closed at 251 for eight. Mark Jarvis (32no) put up some late resistance. Everett capped off a good day by taking four for 49 – and Henry Cook took three for 38.
Barnstaple & Pilton lost by four wickets to Braunton at Raleigh Meadow in a Division Two fixture.
Barnstaple & Pilton struggled against the Braunton attack as they limped to 166 for nine in their 40 overs. Matt Jarvis top scored with 42 and there were contributions from veterans Rob Norton (28), and Clive Ball (22).
Joe Mullens (4-36) was the pick of the Braunton bowlers. Dinesh Korale-Kankanamge took two more.
Nigel Cross carried his bat for 93 as Braunton knocked off the runs. He got support from Mullens (33).
Zach Newman, B&P’s 14-year-old colt, took four for 14 on debut. There were the ubiquitous couple of wickets for veteran mystery spinner Tony Gilbert.
Holsworthy defeated Victoria Park by 150 runs at Stanhope Park after compiling 337 for seven in their 40 overs.
Sam Stacey got the innings started with 67, and all seemed normal at 158 for five. Then Noah Pigdon arrived at the crease and completely changed the game in a brutal fashion.
Pigdon scored 124 not out from 63 balls, swatting 12 sixes and five fours along the way. Adam Lovejoy contributed 33 to an eighth-wicket stand of 147. Mark Slade (3-35) was the pick Victoria Park’s bowlers.
Jack Ancill hit 86 in reply but struggled to find support as Victoria Park were all out for 187. Daniel Lucas (3-22) posted the best figures among Holsworthy bowlers.
