Honiton II skipper Andrew Lapping and Joe Dixon stroked their side to a handsome victory at home to Clyst Hydon in their latest Francis Clark Devon league game

The track for Honiton IIs encounter with Clyst Hydon looked drier than most facilities encountered this season as Honiton were, for the first time in months, able to play on a surface more like a cricket pitch, writes Andrew Lapping

The home team having called correctly opted to field, as keeper Tom Strawbridge would have to leave early to attend a kite surfing event.

Andy Brinsford and Jake Pulman kept the openers honest with some probing deliveries, Pulman in particular working up a head of steam as he whistled several past the outside edge of both men. Brinsford it was, however, who appropriated the first scalp with a leg before shout to one which would have gone on to hit the base of leg stump.

The day’s wide count began to grow, but Clyst failed to really assert control and, with the score on 55, Doyle poked a drive to mid on where the ever-alert Corey Lapping held on to a tumbling catch. Craig Lapping presently claimed a second victim as Strawbridge effected a smart leg side stumping to see off Harris, but the score ticked along at around four an over with neither side willing to take matters by the scruff of the neck.

The experienced Ian Kelly teased the batters with some subtle variations in length and line before gaining some extra bounce to see off top scorer Oberholster for 45 as he dollied up a catch to the specially positioned Brinsford at short fine leg.

Richard Hill’s (3-33) flipper did for second top scorer Morgan (36) and Andy Brinsford (2-40) returned to prise out Wilkinson to make it 171-8.

The total of 194-9 was made more impressive than it might have been by the presence of a whopping 34 wide’s and no balls.

The reply looked to be relying mainly on extras before Strawbridge remembered his appointment, hit a couple of meaty boundaries, and then lashed at a wide one to edge behind for 10.

Potter accidentally creamed a cover drive to the fence off his second ball, but failed to capitalise, nicking off to the keeper for six and Steve Rampaul ballooned a thick edge to slip to make it 63-3 with over 130 still needed.

Captain Andrew Lapping and Dixon seemed completely undaunted by the size of the task ahead as the two played in complementary styles. Dixon worked the ball through gaps with his usual deft touch and vision, while Lapping’s vision seemed mainly concerned with the football dugout and the A30.

Andrew Lapping took 20 from a single over of the normally penurious Dowell and thereafter made sure to take maximum toll of anything reachable as the pair pressed on past 100.

Joe Dixon began to find the ropes as he used the angles like Alan McManus on a pinball machine and the Clyst men rang the changes as they desperately sought a breakthrough.

The partnership reached three figures and as both men reached half centuries, the finishing line looked insight.

With less than 30 required, Honiton still had it within their grasp to make a hash of things, but the two form players throttled back and took absolutely no risks to see the home side over the line with no further losses.

Joe Dixon (63no) with eight 4s, and Andrew Lapping (67no) with six 4s and two 6s, put on 132 for the unbroken fourth wicket as Honiton nailed a seven wicket success with as many overs to spare.

The 19 points lifts Honiton clear of the relegation zone squabblers for now,

Skipper Andrew Lapping said: “ This was a good win for us as they have had a good start to the season and hopefully it’s a change in fortunes for us”.