Devon Cricket League C Division West 1st XI

Kingsbridge 136 for five,

Chelston & Kingskerswell 133 for 10

Kingsbridge won by five wickets

For the first time this season on losing the toss Kings were asked to field first, with Chelston having first use of the hardest pitch of the year so far.

Other than causing chaos with the tea preparations, Kingsbridge were not too downcast.

Chelston got off to a flyer and it looked like a big run chase would be on the cards. However, stalwart bowlers Peach and De Silva pulled the game back, sharing four of the first five wickets, the other being a run-out from a De Silva throw, having warmed up the night before at the coconut shy.

The first four batsmen scored 17, 30, 23 and 27 not out respectively, only for the next seven to fail to reach double figures, leaving extras of 23 to limp the total to 133.

Will Pike bowling up the hill picked up two for 12 from 7.4, needing to work a bit more on the disguise when trying to ­perfect his back of the hand slower ball. He is not quite Shane Warne in the bowling department yet.

Ollie Robinson, bowling his left-arm spin down the hill, picked up two for 16 from four, proving that he is a three over spell man.

De Silva finished with three for 29 from eight and Peach two for 33 from nine.

Kingsbridge’s run chase began slowly and James Ford went early once again, proving it is best to leave the reverse sweep in the locker.

Freddie Ford joined Westlake and the pair put on 59 for the second wicket.

They found accelerating the run rate difficult, but time was on Kings’ side. Westlake banished the holiday blues with 53, but he and Ford junior, 16, both perished within seven runs, leaving Kings 84 for three and Will Dorey and Ashley Treeby at the crease. Ten overs saw them break the back of the total and, despite losing two more wickets, Kings cruised home to a five-wicket win and 20 points, with Dorey finishing on 21 not out.