Bideford crowned champions of North Devon Cricket League

Bideford Cricket Club are champions of the Blight Motors North Devon League.

The top two teams in Division One, Bideford and Belstone, both won their matches last weekend, putting Bideford in an unassailable position.

Heathcoat were the visitors to Westward Ho! and Bideford skipper James Greenleaf’s team won easily by 122 runs. Batting first, Jack Ford got the innings off to a decent start, with a run-a-ball 63, and Ewan Williams (51), plus 30 extras helped Bideford to a total of 203 for 9. Matt Harrison was the pick of the Heathcoat bowlers with 3 for 16.

In reply, Heathcoat couldn't cope with the Bideford bowlers. Richard Pugsley top scored with 29 and Artie Evans contributed 20. Nobody else got into double figures as they slumped to 81 all out. Giles Bashford was the stand-out Bideford bowler, taking 4 for 40. Every bowler Greenleaf used took a wicket!

Belstone travelled to Nomansland and won at a canter by 6 wickets. Nomansland batted first and scored 205 for 9. Elliot Cole scored 51 and shared a 111-partnership with Ash Wreford (40). Jack Harber 33, and 46 extras helped the cause, Belstone Skipper Matt Dennis used 7 bowlers to keep the home side in check, Shaquan Glasgow took the honours with 3 for 19 off his eight overs.

James Ewan led the chase from the front, with an unbeaten 103. He hit 2 sixes, and 11 fours, and faced 75 balls, as the Foxes reached their target for the loss of 4 wickets in just under 26 overs.  Elliot Cole took 3 for 37 for the home side.

Lynton & Lynmouth hosted Ilfracombe in the north coast derby and won comfortably by 8 wickets. Ilfracombe batted first and scored an all-out total of 127. Sam Chowdhury and Jay Thakur both scored 25 for 'Combe, although extras top scored with 28. Tristan Jones, Robin Holland, and Mike Cornish all took a couple for Lynton, three run outs helped! 

Barnaby Hayward. with 69 not out, and David Brierley 25 not out knocked off the runs with ease in 21 overs.

Newton Tracey 2nds played Braunton at The Lawn in Division Two on Bank Holiday Monday and it was Braunton who won by 3 wickets.

Newton batted first and scored an all-out total of 198, thanks mainly to 53 from Faizan Naveed, and 41 from the in-form Oli Symons. Andy Norman took 3 for 37 for Braunton, and there was a couple each for Luan Matthews de Menezes and Paul Derbyshire.

Braunton’s reply was dominated by Sam Reddick, who hit an unbeaten 104 to see his side to victory, Norman chipped in with 30, as the visitors reached their total with 6 overs in hand. Dom Robson, Naveed and Symons, all took 2 wickets for Newton.