Big hits and tumbling wickets in North Devon Cricket League

The top three teams in the Blights Motors 1st Division were all in action on the first Sunday in August, and they all ran out as comfortable winners.

Bideford travelled to Newton Tracey and won easily by six wickets.

Newton batted first, and were bundled out for 128, extras contributed 37, Graham Persson 27, and Oliver Symons 25 were the only other significant scorers. There were three wickets each for Sam Beckley, and Oli Keates, Jim Keates took a couple.

Julian Hayter led the chase from the front with an unbeaten 52, Marcus Bulled was there at the end with 21, as Bideford won with 17 overs in hand. Domi Moore, and Dominic Robson both took a couple for Newton. 

Belstone entertained Westleigh at Rew Meadow and won by 60 runs.

Belstone batted first and scored a 40-over score of 231 for 5. Phil Woods led from the front, with an unbeaten 109, and he shared a 150 second wicket partnership with Matt Dennis 73. Former B&P starlet Ian Wheatley took a couple for Westleigh.

At 168 for 5, thanks mainly to the Poole boys, James 52, and Tom 55, Westleigh were in with a shout. There followed a spectacular collapse as they lost their last 5 wickets for 3 runs. Craig Penberthy took the bowling honours with 4 for 30, and there was a couple each for Harry Bushin,and Marcus Walters.

Over at Instow, Heathcoat were the visitors, and it was North Devon that won comfortably, by nine wickets.

Heathcoat elected to bat, and opener Finn Stoneman, who eventually top scored with 45 had to watch Jack Moore decimate the top order by taking 5 for 15. Christopher Salter scored a stoic 20, and was last man out with the score on 108

It took North Devon just over 14 overs to knock off the runs, thanks to 59 not out from Roshan Lakmal, and 34 not out from Navindu Vanderbona.

In Division 2, it was the Niall Leahy show as 10-man Hatherleigh took the long trip to Exford and won by six wickets,

Exford batted first and racked up an all-out score of 248. Renjeesh Krishnan top scored with 50, and there were 40+ scores for Jonah Hopkins 48, Oli Ahern 46, and Vishnu Kombath 45. Each of the seven Hatherleigh bowlers used took a wicket, Henry D'Alberti Nicholson led the way with 3 for 25.

It was at this stage that Niall Leahy took over, with a spectacular innings of 185 not out. He hit 26 fours and 7 sixes in his 116-ball innings as the visitors cruised to victory with eight overs in hand.

Victoria Park travelled to Barnstaple & Pilton, and won at a canter by 108 runs

Will Anderson hit 15 fours in scoring 103, and found support from Ian Brown 36, as Viccy Park scored 204 for 6. Dom Chugg took a couple for B&P, It was Chugg that top scored with 47, as B&P were dismissed for 96. Rob Guppy took the bowling plaudits by taking 5 for 10.