Honiton recorded a superb success when they became the first team to defeat D Division East table-topping Barnstaple by a margin of 52 runs at Mountbatten Park.

After winning the toss Honiton skipper Tom Strawbridge opted to bat and he and Dave Haysom gave the home side a solid start, reaching 72 before the fall of the first wicket, the skipper departing for 39. Haysom was joined by Pete Matravers and they took the total pass 100 before Haysom became the second wicket down, in his case for 48.

Kev Kelly joined Pete Matravers and, from that moment on, the session belonged entirely to the two Honiton batsmen as they stroked the ball around Mountbatten Park with plenty of confidence. There were some big hits too – none more so than the five sixes plundered by Kelly in his 54-ball knock of 73 runs that also include five other boundaries. Matravers was also unbeaten at the close of the innings; in his case for an 81 ball 76 with nine fours and one six.

The pair added 142 for the unbroken third wicket, allowing Honiton to close on 255-2.

The Barum reply was hit early on when Michael Docherty held a catch of the bowling of Andy Canniford to leave the visitors 14-1. Their second wicket partnership hit back and it was not until 77 runs were on the board that Honiton struck again, this time with a Ben Kidson catch off the bowling of Phil Tansley.

It was second change Kev Kelly and fourth change Michael Docherty that made the biggest inroads into the Barum batting order, both claimed three wickets with the Kelly three coming at a cost of 31 runs from his nine overs while Docherty’s three were at a cost of 16 runs from four overs. In between there was some tight bowling which left Barum always behind the clock and they finally closed on 203-9 to suffer their first league defeat of the season.

The win lifts Honiton into fifth spot and they are just 15 points shy of new leaders Chardstock. This Saturday (July 1), marks the halfway stage of the Tolchards Devon League campaign and Honiton travel to face a Topsham St James side who also won last time out – in their case claiming only their second success of the season with victory over Tiverton.