By Martin Huscroft

Kilmington ended their pre-season preparation with games away to Chard 1st XI and at home to the Devon Senior team.

ilmington 1st XI won the toss and batted first at Chard. For the second successive week Tom Gooding and Josh Cann started with a hundred opening partnership. Tom's innings was both controlled and brutal, taking 95 off only 59 balls with three sixes and 13 fours.

At 139-1 off 16 overs, Kilmington looked set for a huge total but Tom's dismissal curtailed the run rate. The early scoring masked the fact that the wicket was not easy to score quickly on.

Of the other batsmen, only Josh Short (24), Joel Seward and Giles Dixon (both 13) really troubled the scorers. The all-out score of 198 was a slightly disappointing outcome. Jon Dalwood and Chris Scott were the pick of the Chard bowlers with three wickets apiece.

Chard's innings never really recovered from Reid Maudsley getting cleaned up by Ollie Reed second ball for 0, as they slumped to 51-7 against Kilmington's spin-trio Josh Short (4-13), Joel Seward (2-12) and Rob Crabb (2-12). Only 31 from Nathan Johnson showed much.

An eighth-wicket partnership of 45 between Jon Dalwood and Chris Scott took the score to 99 before three wickets tumbled for 0 runs leaving Chard 99 all out.

A Division baptist game

A confidence boosting win for Kilmington 1st XI prior to their A Division baptism against Budleigh Salterton on Saturday.

Kilmington 198 all out (37.2 overs) Tom Gooding 95, Josh Short 24, Jon Dalwood 3-17, Chris Scott 3-49, Devon du Plessis 2-40.

Chard 99 all out (24.4 overs) Nathan Johnson 31, Jon Dalwood 22, Chris Scott 21, Josh Short 4-13, Joel Seward 2-12, Rob Crabb 2-12.

Kilmington 2nd XI hosted a Devon Seniors team featuring Kilmington regular Eddie Clarke. The Seniors batted first and made 179 for 4 in their 40 overs with significant contributions from Pete Shephard (53), Graham Jones (36), Andy Rose (32) and Rob Jack (29). The wickets were shared for Kilmington with one apiece for Matt Chennery, Ben Fuzzard,

Ashley Cook and Ralph Cook. Kilmington chased down the runs at 180 for 4 from 34.3 overs with 46 from big hitting Ben Fuzzard and then an unbroken stand of 94 between the senior members of the Cook family on show, Ashley (48 not out) and Ralph (47 not out).

Topsham St James' seamer Brian Jeary was the pick of the Devon Seniors bowlers with 3-22, not the first time he has troubled Kilmington batsmen over the years. A fine competitive game played in a good spirit.

Devon Seniors 179-4 (40 overs) Pete Shephard 53, Graham Jones 36, Andy Rose 32, Rob Jack 29 Kilmington 2nd XI 180-4 (34.3 overs) Ashley Cook 48 not out, Ralph Cook 47 not out, Ben Fuzzard 46, Brian Jeary 3-22