Saturday July 23 - Exmouth 1st XI v Kilmington 1st XI

Kilmington travelled to league leaders Exmouth as second favourites, hoping for an upset, writes Martin Huscroft.

Having won the toss, Kilmington surprised some of their supporters by choosing to bat and the wicket proved quite lively. Several players got a start but the Greenway brothers George (3-34), with aggressive pace, and Lawrence (3-23), with spin, plus seamer bowling from Alvin Pollard (3-15), worked through the batting order.

The best part of the innings for the visitors was the 49 for the ninth wicket from Oscar Oborn-Corby (25) and Ollie Reed (23), but they subsided to 146 all out.

Kilmington made Exmouth work really hard for their win. Joel Seward (2-22) came on early and nipped out James Horler with his first ball, and then Dan Pyle, but as ever, Jason Niemand was the prize wicket. Australian Oborn-Corby gave Niemand a bit of a working over, felling him with a blow amidships and then bowling him next ball.

At 62-3, another quick wicket might have put real pressure on Exmouth but Cameron Kidd (39*) and Finlay Marks (35) batted really well under pressure. Matt Reed Snr got Kilmington an extra bowling point but Exmouth won on 148-4. Both Seward and Oborn-Corby bowled even better than their figures suggest.

Huge game versus Thorverton next week, heads up boys!

Kilmington 1st XI 146 (34.2 overs) Oscar Oborn-Corby 25, Billy Reed 23, Ollie Reed 23, Alvin Pollard 3-15, Lawrence Greenway 3-23, George Greenway 3-34 Exmouth 1st XI 148-4 (28.4 overs) Jason Niemand 42, Cameron Kidd 39*, Finlay Marks 35, Joel Seward 2-22.

Kilmington 2nd XI v Feniton 2nd XI

Kilmington won the toss and batted, mixing the batting order to give a few a chance who haven't had a lot of batting in recent weeks. It didn't make a lot of difference though as Alex Rockett was still the star of the show from number 4 with 222 (28 4s, and 15 6s), his second double hundred of the season.

Support came from Hal Cook (70), adding 124 for the 3rd wicket, and Ralph Cook (77), himself having a fine season, adding 165 for the fifth wicket, as Kilmington set 445-6. Feniton's bowlers stuck to their task with Mark Lilley (2-73) having the best figures.

Alex is now in an exclusive club of two with Lloyd White (Ashburton), as the only players to have score two Devon League double hundreds in its 50-year history. In Club terms, prior to this season, there had only been two double hundreds, by club legends Peter Davis and Tom Gooding, in its 142 year history. Alex has personally doubled that tally in the past 12 weeks!

Feniton replied with 106 all out featuring 38 from Ben Stone, and game efforts from youngsters Harry Stone (15) and Ewen Fearn (14). Pick of the Kilmington bowlers were Tom Olive (3-12) and the pacy Fuzzard brothers, Dan (3-19) and Ben (2-13). The win keeps Kilmington's promotion push on track but they face a tough task next week away to Honiton.

Kilmington 2nd XI 445-6 (40 overs) Alex Rockett 222, Ralph Cook 77, Hal Cook 70, Mark Lilley 2-73 Feniton 2nd XI 106 (32.4 overs) Ben Stone 38, Tom Olive 3-12, Dan Fuzzard 3-19, Ben Fuzzard 2-13