Kilmington edge ever closer to C Division East title after win at Exeter II

Ian Gooding keeping wicket for Kilmington at home to Sidmouth 2nds CC. Ref mhsp 33 18TI 9764. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Batting first, Kilmington were bowled out for 192 with the best of the batting contributions being those from Ian Gooding (30), skipper Brett Garner (30) and Billy Reed (28).

Exeter made a decent start to the run chase and reached 50 before Ollie Reed made the initial breakthrough. That sparked three further quick wickets and Exeter were eventually bowled out for 128 with still some six overs to go.

Kilmington skipper Brett Garner said: “It was a strange wicket and certainly not what we were expecting at the County ground. I batted first, as I expected it to be a very true surface and so posting a 200 score would give us a great chance of a maximum points haul. However, the track was up and down, to say the least, but I was delighted with the 192.”

With Sidmouth 2nds also winning – and banking one more point – it means the Kilmington lead is now 11 points with two games to go. Garner says: “We always knew that beating Sidmouth last week was only the first step in a four-game run to the top honour. Now it’s about holding our nerve and not taking any opposition for granted.”

This Saturday (August 25), Kilmington travel to Whimple, who look as if they need to take big points from the game to avoid being left with a ‘must-win’ final day game to avoid relegation.”

Garner says: “Whimple need the points every bit as much as we do this coming Saturday and so we cannot afford to step down from the high levels of performance we have produced over the past couple of weeks. They [Whimple] have some very good players and, if they click on the day, could easily end our dreams of being crowned champions. We need to stay focussed and keep doing what we are good at.”