Honiton 2nd XI put bat to ball with great effect as they racked up a huge 400 plus total on their way to a second successive C Division East 2nd XI success at Kentisbeare II.

Invited to bat first, Honiton suffered an early blow when opener Jon Hext was returned to the pavilion with just 10 runs on the score board. Nathan Groves joined skipper Andrew Lapping and they dug in, taking the total to 59 when Groves was bowled for 23.

Kev Kelly was next in and he and the captain clearly enjoyed batting together as they took the attack to the Kentisbeare bowling and they added 96 for the third wicket which was that of Lapping, caught just six runs shy of what would have been a maiden – and richly deserved ton. The Andrew Lapping knock saw him hit 13 fours and six sixes.

Richard Potter was next man in – and out – trapped leg before for nine. However, that wicket fell at 166 and the next one did not fall until the score board had 320 on it!

Kelly was joined by Craig Lapping who instantly took a liking to the home club’s short boundaries, rifling the ball to all corners! When Kelly was out he had plundered 85 quick-fire runs with sevens fours and as many sixes.

Ashley Munt and Ian Kelly both fell soon after joining Lapping, but from 375-7 the score raced to a close of 427-7 with Andy Brinsford not out 16 and Lapping having struck a magnificent unbeaten 152. Indeed, with two balls remaining Lapping was still six runs shy of a maiden 150, but he smashed yet another six to leave him with a career best score at tea.

On the small Kentisbeare ground, even a 400 plus score is ‘gettable’. But the Honiton bowlers did their work well to reduce the hosts to 54-3 with Cory lapping claiming two of the wickets.

took early wickets to reduce them to 54 for 3, Corey Lapping with a brace.

Kentisbeare did fashion one lengthy partnership as Richard Norman and James Sprague added 90 for the fourth wicket, but thereafter the bowlers were on top and the home reply saw its final wicket fall on 296 to the second delivery of the 44thover.

Kev Kelly finished with figures of 2-33, but it was that man Craig Lapping who ended a sensational day for him with bat and ball, claiming three wickets for 22 runs.