Devon Cricket League - E division West Yelverton First XI v Shaldon Optimists YELVERTON Firsts got back to winning ways after last week?s reversal at Roborough, with a 70 run victory over Shaldon Optimists. On one of the hottest days in recent months Yelverton skipper Rob Guy was happy to win the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bat first in the perfect batting conditions. The Shaldon bowlers toiled manfully in the conditions and made early in-roads into the Yelverton top order. Yelverton?s innings was held together by a solid innings from Adam Nicholas who made an unbeaten 76. Nicholas had useful partnerships with Gul Khan (18) and 15 year old Rob Bennett who made a composed 24. Yelverton were bowled out for 195 in the last of their allotted overs. The backbone of Shaldon?s reply was led by Mason with 65 but few of the other Shaldon batsmen could make much headway against the bowling of Geoff Brain (4-12) and Sanjiv Shrivastav (3-37) and they were bowled out for 125. Skipper Guy said: ?After last week?s reversal it was important that we bounced back, and I got a good reaction from the players who were still smarting from the defeat last week.? With previously second placed Roborough losing at Ashburton, Yelverton now have a 17 point cushion over second placed Exeter Civil Service, who visit Yelverton for the last league game of the season on August 25. Skipper Guy added: ?It was an important win and the Roborough defeat takes us into the final lap of the campaign with a decent lead. ?There?s little room for complacency but at this stage of the season you always want to be the side being chased rather than being the teams below hoping for slip ups.? l This week Yelverton travel to fifth placed Keyham and Buckfastleigh for their penultimate League fixture of the summer.

Devon Cricket League ? C Division Stoke Gabriel v Yelverton Second XI Yelverton Seconds were comprehensively beaten when they visited Stoke Gabriel at the weekend. After winning the toss, skipper Tony Carter elected to field first and Stoke?s Australian import Chris Samargas made hay in the sun as he batted for the entire 46 overs scoring an unbeaten 119 not out. Samargas was well supported by Coleman (52) and Nand-lal (53) and Stoke closed on 230-3. Yelverton skipper Carter took two wickets for the visitors. Samargas returned in the field to further torment his opponents and took 5-29 to assist in dismissing Yelverton for 116 and sealing a 114 run victory. Veteran Malcolm Perkin took 4-14 at the other end. Only Mike Chetwynd with 30 could take much credit from the poor batting display. Vice captain Chris Pearson said: ?It was a poor batting display as the wicket hadn?t deteriorated significantly after tea. ?However, it?s unfortunate for us that their guy has been away for five to six weeks and chose last Saturday to come back take us to task with both bat and ball. He played very well and I can?t remember him giving a chance in the 46 overs he batted. At Second XI standard that?s pretty unusual.? Yelverton slumped to fifth in the divisional table and will be looking to make amends when they entertain second placed Plymouth Thirds next weekend at Yelverton (1.30pm start).

Moorland Bats Tamar Cricket League ? B Section Yelverton Third XI v Launceston Yelverton Thirds returned with the spoils from their trip to Launceston. Batting first , Yelverton ran up 175-8 in their 40 overs. Skipper Brian Spear with 35 and Lewis Gregory with 39 were the main contributors. In response, Launceston were ?spun? out for 103 with veteran Alan Munton taking 5-32 with his slow left arm spin and skipper?s son Ben Spear 4-14 with his leg spin. l Next week Yelverton travel to Lewdown for an Inter-divisional fixture.