ABBOTSKERSWELL’S relegation season in the Tolchards DCL A Division ended on a low note with a four-wicket defeat at home to Hatherleigh.
Skipper Ed Smout-Cooper, who usually opens the batting, went in at 91-7 and top-scored with 47. Liam Hurse, who opened instead of the skipper was next best on 32. Subtract 28 extras and there was not a lot from the rest.
Hatherleigh stuck to their week-in, week-out bowling arrangements and were rewarded with wickets for the usual suspects: Charlie Neilson (4-31), Shrey Ghosh (2-19) and Rob Cockwill (3-24).
Neilson opened up with 34 before a mini-collapse from 67-1 to 82-4 briefly slowed the chase.
Ghosh got his head down for a match-winning 59 not out that steered Hatherleigh to victory, despite occasional disruptions from Par Singh (3-23).
Elsewhere, Sam Robbins, Archie Christophers and skipper Dan Green all made half-centuries for Bovey Tracey 2nd XI in a six-wicket derby win over Chudleigh.
Chudleigh, who are heading down to the C Division West next season, made what looked like a respectable 231 for nine in 45 overs.
Manny Bhullar’s contribution to a running total of 156 for six was 80. Kam Singh thudded 42 off 28 balls down the order.
Bovey Tracey’s batters made Chudleigh’s total look inadequate as they knocked it off with more than 14 overs to go.
Sam Russell (35) and Jamie Bishop (23) got Bovey up and running – they were 73 for three when Bishop got out – then Robbins (53) and Christophers (50no) added another 95.
Green did not hang around on his way to 59 not out, which came off just 23 balls and include seven sixes and three fours.
Lastly, Ashburton secured a fourth-place finish in the C West with an emphatic win over Plymouth 2nd XI by 98 runs.
The season went flat around the halfway stage when overseas all-rounder Vaibhav Sheth had to return home to India unexpectedly.
George Yabsley (60), Ashley Berry (90) and Lloyd White with a rapid 58 took Ashburton up to 283 for six.
Chris Yeo was already on 30 not out when White departed. He went on to make 50 and Jack Warren 22 not out as the score kept climbing.
Plymouth left-armer Dave Burke topped the bowling stats with an impressive four for 26 from nine overs.
Plymouth had it all to do after slumping to 37 for three in reply. Ryan May (2-14) mostly responsible. Although thoughts of chasing were dead and buried at 37 for three, respectability was a different matter.
Alex Hill made 55 and there were contributions from Evan Burke (30), Dave Burke (35) and Freddie Lown (36no) towards a Plymouth total of 229 for nine.
A stand of 72 for the seventh wicket between the Burkes – dad Dave, son Evan – was a definite highlight.
Wickets were shared around between May, Yeo (2-29) and Warren (2-28).