Devon seconds B

Braunton seconds v

Yelverton seconds

YELVERTON Bohemians seconds travelled to second placed Braunton on Saturday, looking for a victory to keep them in the hunt for a promotion place.

North Devon was dry and bright and despite some early morning showers the wicket still looked a good one. 

Braunton skipper Dave Creswell won the toss and had no hesitation in asking Yelverton to bat first and set a defendable total.

Openers Jason Degg and Chris Cottrell started off well, but with the score on 21 Cottrell could not get over the top of a cut shot and was caught in the gully for 10.  Skipper Degg was joined by Gul Khan in the middle and the pair had put on 19 when Degg drove uppishly and was caught and bowled for 16. 

Veteran Gerry Keen helped Khan add 40 for the third wicket, but the dismissal of Khan, caught behind down the leg side for 14, precipitated a collapse where five wickets fell for 16 runs to leave Yelverton on 96-7. 

Keen was bowled off his pads for 30, Patrick Hobbs caught at mid-off for 5, Matt Tamsett caught and bowled for 4 and Edward Degg bowled for a duck.  Wicketkeeper Jez Croymosan (23) and Chris Pearson (9) dug in to put on 33 for the eighth wicket, but when Pearson was caught with the score on 129, the last two wickets of Croymosan and Carter fell cheaply to leave the Bohemians all out for a disappointing 133 off 36 overs.  Brigden with 3-38 and Spicer with 4-26 were the main wicket takers for Braunton.

Yelvertons opening bowlers Carter (1-16 off 10) and Heath (0-33 off nine) bowled well but were unable to make an early breakthrough until the score had reached 37 when W Manning chipped a catch to Hobbs at mid-on. 

M Tovey was joined by M Seward and the pair survived a couple of let offs to put on a match-winning partnership of 92. Then, with the score on 129, Sewell chipped a catch to Degg at midwicket off the bowling of Cottrell and departed for 41.  With just four needed the heavens opened but both skippers agreed to continue and the winning runs were duly scored in a torrential downpour in the 35th over to seal an eight wicket win for Braunton on 134-2, Tovey ending up unbeaten on 69.

n This week, although almost mathematically out of the running for a promotion spot, Yelverton can still effect the end of season promotion placings when they entertain third placed Heathcoat at Langton Park, 1.30pm start.