Saturday July 2nd Kilmington 1st XI v Abbotskerswell 1st XI

Kilmington remain in the relegation zone but the mood is much more upbeat following a dominant 97-run victory over Abotskerswell, writes Martin Huscroft.

The visitors won the toss and immediately put Kilmington in to bat with rain in the air. Opener Tom Gooding plundered a magnificent 92 with three sixes and 11 fours, and with good support from the aggressive Billy Reed (43) and Josh Short (25) helped Kilmington to 217-7. At that stage, the innings could have gone either way, but Ollie Reed (52*), showed all rounder ability, with Ben Fuzzard (17) and took Kilmington to an imposing 294-8 off 41 overs.

Rain reduced the Abbots target to 263 from 35 overs but Kilmington got stuck into them after a 52-run opening stand from Eddie Smout-Cooper (41) and Md Zahedan Hussein (28). Every bowler bowled well with Oscar Oborn-Corby (3-28) and braces for Ollie Reed (2-30), Josh Short (2-39) and Matt Reed (2-17) keeping the Abbots to 165 all out.

Given the way the other games in the A Division went, it was vital Kilmington won, but now the table has become congested from second to ninth and Kilmington enter the second half of the season only six points off sixth place with everything to play for.

Kilmington 1st XI 294-8 (41 overs) Tom Gooding 92, Ollie Reed 52*, Billy Reed 43, Md Zahed Hussein 3-35, Tom Heath 3-58 Abbotskerswell 1st XI 165 (32.1 overs) Eddie Smout-Cooper 43, Nick Watkins 30, Oscar Oborn-Corby 3-28

Another heavy defeat for Seaton

Another inadequate batting display saw Seaton 1st X1 bowled out for just 82 in a nine-wicket defeat at Thorverton.

The home team won the toss and elected to field but only three Sidmouth batters managed to reach double figures - Damian Baxter (12), Matthew Hewer (10) and and Michael Wheeler (18).

Thorverton knocked off there required runs, losing just one wicket along the way, in a rain affected reply with opener Alistair Chiltern not out of 44.

Thorverton1st X1 20 points; Seaton 1st X1 1 point.