We are not quite at the halfway stage of the season, but this Saturday’s ninth round of the Devon  Cricket League Premier Division could well have a major bearing on who comes out on top, and  bottom, at the end of the campaign (writes Dave Thomas).  

After an unpredictable start, it looks as if the ‘cream’ is starting to rise to the top of the table. Cornwood, bidding for their first Premier title, still lead after a five-wicket win, chasing 201, over  Bovey Tracey.  

Sandford are up to second in the wake of a nailbiter against Tiverton Heathcoat – they won by one  wicket after bowling Heathcoat out for 159. 

And defending champions Bradninch & Kentisbeare are just over a win away in fourth, thanks to an eight-wicket thumping of Sidmouth.  

The top of the table reads: Cornwood 133pts, Sandford 126, Heathcoat 120, Bradninch 110,  Sidmouth 108. 

But not only do the top four meet this weekend – Sandford host Cornwood and Heathcoat go to  Bradninch – but the bottom-two, Plympton and North Devon, also face each other.  

After their surprise win over Cornwood seven days before, North Devon came back to earth with a bump – Paignton’s Indian all-rounder Divyaansh Saxena hit 148 of 337-8 at Instow, and then took 5- 44 in a 254-run rout.  

James Boyle did his best to deny Sandford – he top-scored with 40 in Heathcoat’s 159 (Dikshanshu  Negi 4-27) and then took 5-34.  

But Sandford just made it. Ryan Glass anchored the chase with a patient 57, and last pair Jamie Palmer and Matt Jeacock scored the eight runs needed for victory at Knightshayes.  

Ross Acton’s unbeaten 105 carried Bradninch home with more than 25 overs to spare against Sidmouth, where Mitchell Pugh (5-23) and skipper Gary Chappell (3-17) did the damage with the ball.  

Elsewhere, Plympton made nonsense of their wobbly form – they threw in 29 wides in Exmouth’s  228 at The Maer and then knocked them off without losing a wicket.  

Ben Privett and Harry Kandampully both scored unbeaten tons.  

Exeter still lead the way in the ‘A’ Division – Ben Abraham hit 75 and in-form Sam Read 56 as they piled up 281-7 in a comfortable win over Budleigh Salterton (143ao). 

Former Premier rivals Torquay are only nine points behind - their South African opener Ruan Terblanche scored a brilliant 139no after Hatherleigh set them 270 to win.  

Adam Quick hit 66 and Jasper Presswell 44 for the hosts, but Terblanche carried Torquay home by six wickets with four balls to spare.  

A Steve Luffman century (107no) wasn’t enough to save Tavistock (200-9) losing at third-placed Kilmington by six wickets.  

Abbotskerswell upset Thorverton for their first win of the season, by seven wickets chasing a modest 142, and Clyst St George’s 148 wasn’t quite enough against Plymstock, who scrambled home by one wicket. 

 

Promoted Bridestowe are going to take some shifting off the top of ‘B’ – their 188 was too good for Chudleigh (143). 

Cullompton are still second despite losing by six wickets to Seaton, who made a target of 202 look pretty straightforward.  

But keep an eye on Barton (3rd) and Bideford (5th). 

After a slow start Barton are on a roll, their latest win coming at Bovey 2nds (161), where Zimbabwean Cephas Zhuwao (46no) didn’t have to mount another onslaught to win by seven wickets.  

And, after having to soak up that 254-run tornado from Zhuwao the previous weekend, Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! bounced back in a high-scoring 36-run win over Sandford 2nds. 

Ollie Hannam hit 103 in Bideford’s 275-4.  

And when will bowlers ever learn?  

C East leaders Teignmouth & Shaldon (389-7) beat North Devon 2nds (140) by a 249 runs, but no fewer than 60 of those runs were ‘wides’!  

One final word from G Division East, where Seaton 2nds inflicted a whopping 340-run defeat in Heathcoat 4ths. Toby Tucker and Tristan Whiteley both retired after making centuries in a total of 384-3. The Seaton bowlers then dismissed Heathcoat for just 44, including four wickets for James Jamani.