Devon league E division Halverton v Yelverton YELVERTON's 1st XI arrived at Halberton and Sampford Peverell on a glorious sunny day to find a soaking wet wicket following flooding two days previously. Fortunately skipper Rob Guy won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to field. Yelverton's ranks were boosted by the return of overseas player Sanjiv Shrivastav playing his first game of the season having arrived from India 48 hours previously. Halberton's openers dug in and crawled along at two runs an over but were aided by some wayward bowling and not having the rub of the green with a number of close umpiring decisions. Fever (31) and Chillcott (23) both got going before falling to the persistent Stevens (2-39) and Harrison (2-33) before a late onslaught by Coles (65) and Turner (36 not out) took 84 runs off the last 10 overs. Halberton ended on 207-7, a very respectable score in the conditions. Yelverton started in a similar cautious fashion to the home side, with Paul Farnham (57) and Geoff Brain (18) putting on 45 for the first wicket before Brain fell to a ball that failed to get above ankle height. Adam Nicolas came in and smacked a quick fire 26 including 20 off one over before four wickets fell for 17 runs and victory looked a distant hope. However, Terry Stevens (38 not out) came in and batted superbly to marshal the tail and take Yelverton to victory with an over to spare, James Harrison hastening the end with a quick 23 not out. For Halberton it was Harding (3-47) and Turner (2- 53) that were the main bowlers. Saturday's result allowed Yelverton to stretch their lead at the top of the table as some of their closest rivals' games fell victim to the weather. Next week Yelverton are on their travels once again as they visit in form Countess Wear for what could prove to be match of the day in the DCL E Division. Man of the match: Terry Stevens Yelverton (18 points) beat Halberton and Sampford Peverell (8) by three wickets Rain takes toll against Axemen
THE unsettled weather finally descended on Langton Park at 4pm on Saturday with visitors Axminster thirds struggling on 74-8 after 32 overs. Yelverton skipper Chris Pearson won the toss and had no hesitation in asking their East Devon opponents to bat first. With showers forecast it was all about getting as many bowling bonus points before and if the rains came. Despite the damp wicket, the Axminster openers set off at a good tempo regularly scoring boundaries in the first few overs sent down by Adrian Hood and Tony Carter. The ever reliable Carter made the initial breakthrough having one of the openers caught low down by keeper Dave Scott for the first of his four catches of the day. After four overs Dan Vince replaced Hood and took the important wicket of the Axminster skipper Pete Hayball caught behind by Scott off a thick edge just as he was looking dangerous. Carter (2-23) and Scott combined again to take the third Axminster wicket and with Vince (12-6-23-2) snaring a second victim courtesy of a well judged catch by Tom Watkins running back at mid-off. This left Axminster on 62-4 . Skipper Pearson replaced Carter after his opening spell of 9-3-23-2 and took a wicket in his third over with Scott once again snaffling the edge. Pearson then bowled youngster M Rockett first ball but his hat-trick delivery was a poor one and did not trouble the next Axminster batsman. With the score on 68-6 the odd drop of rain was felt but held off sufficiently long enough to enable Yelverton to take a further two wickets to leave Axminster tottering on 74-8, both victims bowled by Pearson who had figures of 7-4-6-4 when the rain started in earnest and the players left the pitch for what proved to be the last time. An early tea was taken but at 4.45pm the rain had still not abated and with large puddles on the pitch, the umpires and captains decided to call it a day. At 6.30pm (the latest time the second innings could have started) the square was still saturated with no likelihood of play. A frustrating afternoon for all concerned with a possible victory denied, but the four bowling bonus points gained may prove to be critical come the end of season rankings. Man of the match: Dave Scott. Yelverton Seconds (10pts) v Axminster Thirds (6pts) – match abandoned.