Devon D division

Kilmington v Yelverton Bohemians first XI  

THIS was a strong and gritty performance from the Bohemians. Highly motivated and hot on the heels of the leaders, they journeyed to a Kilmington side short of wins.

The track was like concrete and, winning the toss, skipper Jez Stokes chose to bat with the team keen to dominate and set a challenging total.  

At 17 for 3, the Bohemians were staring down a barrel. Kilmington's opening attack of B Noble and H Cook provided a skilful and tricky combination of pace and swing. Noble (13-3-35-2) bowled extremely well and without luck.

But the Yelverton team has massive strength in depth and a determination to fight all the way. This grit has been installed in the squad over two championship winning years. The middle order of Ian Loze (35), Richard West (28), Terry Stevens (29), Nick Auger (27) and Geoff Brain (22) dominated from the half-way point and with a flurry of sixes towards the end, the Bohemians reached a competitive 194.

The Yelverton pace attack of Rob Bennett and Iain Cunningham made good use of the hard track, bowling with maturity but without any luck.

Kilmington survived several scares and after some good early batting from R Stonex (29), R Helliar (31) and D Cook (26) reached 105-2 at the half-way point, with the game in the balance. But Yelverton with six or seven bowling options fought back. Rob Guy, once again, showed his control, variation and attacking instincts. He returned figures of 12-3-30-4 and with Terry Stevens' 10.3-1-45-3 tore out the heart of the Kilmington line up.

Bennett and Cunningham both returned to apply some hostile, intelligent bowling towards the end. It was Stevens who took the final wicket at 170 with four overs to go, to complete a fantastic win on the road to apply further pressure on the leaders.

The team spirit, belief and fielding were superb throughout and there were two astonishing catches by keeper Nick Auger and finally at first slip by Paul Farnham to take the winning wicket.

Devon second XI B

Yelverton seconds v Clyst St George seconds

YELVERTON skipper Dave Scott won the toss and invited Clyst to bat first and the Clyst openers Watson and Coe went on to notch up a 60 run opening partnership. 

The introduction of Chris Pearson (2-49) paid dividends as Coe was caught in the gully by Gerry Keen and Watson bowled off his pads a few runs later by the same bowler.  New batsmen Welsh and Laverick scored freely in a partnership of 115 for the third wicket.  The partnership was broken with the score on 178 with Welsh (70) caught courtesy of a one handed diving catch by Pearson at backward point off the bowling of Andy Taylor.  Laverick followed shortly after for 44 stumped by Scott off Mike Chetwynd with the score on 197. 

Clyst middle and lower order found run scoring difficult against the all-spin attack of Taylor & Chetwynd.  Taylor finished with figures of 3-68 off 13 and Chetwynd with 2-40 off 8, as the Clyst innings closed on 231-7 off their 46 overs.

Yelverton's openers Pete Garland and Mike Chetwynd scored freely against some wayward bowling with a partnership of 83 for the first wicket off 13 overs.  Chetwynd was the first to go caught at cover for 28 and Tim Berry soon followed with the score on 90, LBW for 4.  

Garland was joined by Keen at the wicket and the pair put on 41 for the 3rd wicket before Garland was bowled for a well struck 48.  The fourth wicket fell soon after the drinks break with Richard Porritt caught at square leg off Harris for 2. 

From 137-4 the loss of both Keen (22) and Taylor (1) left the scoreline looking slightly wobbly at 152-6.  The arrival at the wicket of skipper Scott steadied the innings and partnerships of 21 with Matt Tamsett for the seventh wicket and an unbeaten eighth wicket partnership of 62 with Ashley Staines (26 n/o) saw the Bohemians home on 235-7 with Scott unbeaten on 28.  

Extras contributed 63.  Richardson 3-54 and Harris 3-55 were the most successful Clyst bowlers. Yelverton won by three wickets.