Heathcoat emerge triumphant in top of the table tussle

In the Blights Motors North Devon Cricket League, first played second in the match of the day, as leaders Heathcoat entertained Bridestowe & Belstone, and it was Heathcoat who won an exciting, high-scoring game by three runs.

Heathcoat batted first and amassed 296 for 5 off their 40 overs. Jeremy Bedford set the tone, hitting 91 off 56 balls at the top of the innings. He got support from Will Hall-Tompkin (27) and Richard Pugsley (47). 

At the end of the innings, Daniel Pugsley (54no) and Matthew Boundy (33no)  put the icing on the cake with an unbeaten stand of 98, while 31 extras helped the cause. Shaquan Glasgow was the pick of the B&B bowling, taking 3 for 35 off his eight overs.

Glasgow then led the reply from number three with a quickfire 65, he shared a 113-run partnership with Kian Burns, who hit 86 off  58 balls. Once Burns was dismissed, brother Tallan picked up the baton, and he took B&B to the brink by hitting 83 off 57 balls,

He was caught by Harry Everett off the bowling of Matt Harrison with the score on 283, Paul Alford and Callum Mallet took the visitors to within one hit from victory, but when Everett ran out Mallet, the match was all but secure.

Daniel Harrison’s 2 for 20 had the best figures for Heathcoat, although the 13 fewer wides bowled proved significant.

There was another three-run victory at Hatherleigh, as they defeated visitors Westleigh in a game reduced to 35 overs per side.

Hatherleigh batted first, Sam Clark top scored with 50, and Shreyansh Ghosh reached an all-out total of 177. Forner Barnstaple & Pilton starlet Ian Wheatley and veteran James Morris both took 3 for 44 for Westleigh.

Tight Hatherleigh bowling, especially from Charlie Presswell (3 for 21), reduced Westleigh to 105 for 6. Selwyn Fisher top scored with 39 and 36 extras helped, thereafter it was Morris (32) and Wheatley (22no), who took their team to one hit from victory until Ruben Forester bowled Morris with a ball to go.

There was a lot less drama at Westward Ho! where a young North Devon side suffered a 142-run defeat to their hosts Bideford.

Bideford’s score of 310 for 6 was built around a double century from Lukanyo Metu. He struck an unbeaten 203 off 119 balls, hitting 18 fours and 12 sixes. There were some big partnerships with Marcus Bulled (37), Mark Paul (20), Julian Hayter (15) and an unbeaten 72 partnership with skipper Jim Keates, who contributed 8! Nic Ollis took 2 for 24 for North Devon.

Jack Moore gave it a go in reply, hitting 44 off 29 balls. Once he was out, James Tyson (35) and Alex Brookes (32) helped the Instow outfit to an all-out score of168. Jim Keates reaped the bowling plaudits, taking 5 for 67, Martin Stewart took 3 for 15, and Oliver Keates 2 for 12.

In Division 2, Exford conceded their game at Barnstaple & Pilton, Newton Tracey and Braunton rearranged their game, to be played on September 7.

T20 scores

Bideford 178 for 6 [Jack Ford 65no, Julian Hayter 33, A Gerry 3 for 24]. Holsworthy 124 for 6 [J Greening 52, R Walter38]. Bideford [2 points] beat Holsworthy [0] by 54 runs.

Barnstaple & Pilton 192 for 6 [C Simpson 82, M Newton 39no, S Fisher 3 for 22]. Westleigh 159 for 7 [R Wild 73, Z Newman 3 for 30]. Barnstaple & Pilton [2 points] beat Westeigh [0] by 33 runs.

Bideford 160 for 4 [Jack Ford 80no, O Hannam 22]. Braunton 129 all out [T ValerI 36, S Reddick 23, Julian Hayter 4 for 17]. Bideford [2 points] beat Braunton [0] by 31 runs.

The story remains very tricky for North Devon in the Premier Division of the Tolchards Devon Cricket League, despite a battling effort at home to Cornwood.

Sitting bottom at the halfway stage in the season, North Devon quite obviously need to start picking up victories, and they did a reasonable job with the ball, limiting the visitors to 201/7 from 39 overs.

Jack Moore was the pick of the bowlers for North Devon, taking 3 for 45, while Josh Atkinson, Will Popham and James Tyson all took one each.

After losing opener Jay Rothery early, skipper Moore (45) and Dan Bowser (69) enjoyed a partnership of 116. At 125/1, North Devon were in a great position to record a vital victory, but the middle order and tail sadly crumbled.

Roshan Lakmal (17) and Atkinson (15) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures, as the Norths fell 23 runs short of their target. Next up is a trip to Exmouth and we are approaching must-win territory for North Devon.