Sandford and Bradninch & Kentisbeare leading the way in Devon Cricket

With the halfway-point already looming in the Tolchards Devon Cricket League, both Sandford and Bradninch and Kentisbeare won again to remain first and second respectively in the Premier Division.

Bovey Tracey’s miserable season continued with a 75-run home defeat to Sidmouth. Chasing 153 to win, they were all out for 77 inside 30 overs.

North Devon are looking strong at the top of the A Division after a commanding 7-wicket win over Hatherleigh. Torquay and Kingskerswell are back up to fourth following a similarly controlling 9-wicket win at Tavistock.

Abbotskerswell remain bottom of the table after loss number seven at the hands of Plymouth at Two Mile Oak. The home side’s 188-9 was again too little. Mohammad Siddiqui’s 101 set-up Plymouth’s comfortable 5-wicket, completed inside 30 overs.

Torquay are back at The Rec to play Kilmington (6th) this week, as Abbots travel to Hatherleigh (7th).

The game of the day in the B Division was in rural Aish and went the way of Barton, who regained top spot after a 4-wicket win at Stoke Gabriel. Barton had Stoke at 96-7, before they recovered to a more respectable 154-9, thanks to 35 from the experienced Mike Smith.

Barton underwent their usual jitters in reply, but stuck on well to reach their target inside 29 overs. Tarisai Musakanda top scored with 61 not out in a line-up that included former Abbotskerswell captain Nick Watkin, who made the move back to his roots shortly before Saturday’s game.

Teignmouth and Shaldon have gladly turned the corner and notched their third straight win, a 33-run success at Chudleigh, despite only posting a total of 147 all out. Chudleigh, however, soon showed why they are at the foot of the table, opening bowlers Ruben Minnaar (2-18) and Jawad Shirzad (3-21) having them in early trouble at 19-4, from which they only recovered to 114 all out.

Ipplepen’s long trip to Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! ended in a 93-run loss. The home side set a robust looking 292 to win, Ewan Wiliams blasting a 62-ball 102, with 9 sixes and 7 fours. Being 42-4 hindered the reply and 198 all out was all Ipplepen could accrue on the day.

It was a case of who'd be a bowler as Exford beat Braunton in a game that saw 569 runs scored in the North Devon Cricket League. Braunton batted first and racked up an impressive 283 for 2.

Sam Reddick and Andrew Norman put on 248 for the first wicket in an impressive display of hitting. Reddick finally succumbed for 136, Norman carried his bat for 126. Exford skipper Will Lock was the only one of eight bowlers to take a wicket.

Exford made light of the chase, knocking off the runs with 4 overs, and 7 wickets in hand. Sam Price led the chase with an unbeaten 147. He shared an opening stand of 181 with Ian Whybrow 73 and got support from Ranjesh Krishnan, who hit a rapid 29. Sam Reddick was the only successful Braunton bowler, taking all 3 wickets

It was another high-scoring affair at Ilfracombe, as visitors Hatherleigh won by 115 runs. Hatherleigh batted first and amassed 317 for 8. Shreyansh Ghosh, 104, scored his third NDL century in as many games.

Jasper Presswell hit a 29 ball 66, and Oscar Moore chipped in with 50. Graham Garner, and Sam Chowdhury both took a couple for 'Combe. In reply, 'Combe were dismissed for 202. Adam Bambridge top scored with 48, Jay Thakur helped with 45. Veteran Hatherleigh bowler Richard Tidball rolled back the years taking 5 for 41.

Lynton & Lynmouth entertained Barnstaple & Pilton at the Valley of the Rocks and ran out winners by 186 runs. The home side scored 317 for 7, thanks to Kofi Atkinson 67 David Brierley 67, Gareth Grant 63 and Dan Godfrey 55. George Elnaugh took three wickets for the visitors. Jobin Franklin and mystery spinner Tony Gilbert both took a couple.

Lynton’s opening bowler Connor Constable ripped into the B&P batting, taking 5 for 12, and helped reduce B&P to 61 for 9, Matty Smith contributed 40, it was down to veterans Rob Norton 40 and Jamie Sutton 26, who put on 70 for the last wicket to earn some respectability, taking B&P to 131 all out.

Victoria Park went to Newton Tracey and beat their 2nd team easily by 7 wickets. Newton Batted first, and were bowled out for 107, Dom Robson 35, and Aaron Holland 34 scored the bulk of the runs. Ian Brown led the bowling honours with 4 for 26, Evan Suggate and Rob Guppy both took 3. Viccy Park knocked off the runs in 16 overs. Jack Ancill top scored with 36.

Only one of the three scheduled games in Division 1 took place, that being at Tiverton Heathcoat, where Bideford were the visitors, and it was Bideford that won by 33 runs. Batting first, Bideford were bowled out for 168. Marcus Bulled top scored with 47. Daniel Pugsley led the bowling with figures of 5 for 21 and he got help from Chris Salter with 3 for 51.

In reply, Heathcoat struggled against all the Bideford bowlers, only Lewis Hough 36 and Salter 28, making significant scores, in an all-out total of 135. Elliot Curry took 3 for 19, and there were a couple each for Jack Ford, Julian Hayter, and Marcus Bulled.

Worryingly, Belstone v Newton Tracey, and Nomansland v Westleigh were not played as Newton and Westleigh were unable to raise teams.