A DIVISION

Saturday, August 20th

After only picking up a single point against Plympton last week, Kilmington needed a much improved performance against Torquay, writes Martin Huscroft.

Winning the toss, they put the visitors into bat. Oscar Oborn-Corby's (3-42) opening spell accounted for the top three Torquay batsmen for 35 runs to put Kilmington in the game.

However, Jiniv Joshi (120*) remained at the crease and went on to play an innings reckoned by sage Kilmington observers to be one of the best seen at the ground.

Wickets continued to fall at the other end to Josh Short (2-46), who kept it tight with spinners Joel Seward and Rob Crabb who extracted turn from the wicket. Unfortunately, Ollie Reed's hamstring problems returned but Ben Fuzzard (3-48) returned to tidy up the tail effectively with Torquay finished 232-9.

Skipper Brett Garner (57) led from the front, adding 83 for the first wicket with Seward (25), but wickets fell at regular intervals with only Billy Reed (30) making a big impact as Kilmington subsided to 168-7.

At that point brother Ollie (46*) appeared on one leg, to join the phlegmatic Harry Johnston (19) to add 64 for the eighth wicket. Johnston was out with the scores level, but the win was sealed with a scrambled single with 10 balls to spare.

A huge win against one of the A Division's big guns. Much work remains in the last two games of the season but this is a big confidence booster.

Torquay 1st XI 232-9 (50 overs) Jiniv Joshi 120*, Oscar Oborn-Corby 3-42, Ben Fuzzard 3-48 Kilmington 1st XI 233-8 (48.2 overs) Brett Garner 57, Ollie Reed 46*, Jiniv Joshi 2-36, Harry Passenger 2-36, Chris Kelmere 2-47.

Kilmington 2nd XI travelled to Shobrooke Park hoping to stay in the promotion race. Stand-in skipper Sam Olive inserted the home side.

Mike Summers (2-21) tied up one end and Dan Fuzzard laid claim to the unluckiest bowler in the league title as Shobrooke struggled to 46-3 but Bruce Kerry (60) used long levers to get after the Kilmington attack.

Tom Olive (3-55) got to work and the home side ended on 201-8, a challenging total on a wicket that kept the bowlers interested.

Kilmington's innings started against Howell Brandwood who also bowled the first ball in Kilmington's first ever game in the East Devon League in 1996. With the score at 11, Alex Rockett was caught and Shobrooke were cock-a-hoop.

Maybe they thought Kilmington were a one man team? How wrong they were as Hal Cook (100) stepped up to the plate and scored his first league hundred in brilliant style, only out to a woeful bit of running between the wickets. Support Les Baker (15), Matt Reed Snr (16) and Tom Olive (33*) carried Kilmington over the line at 202-4 for a crucial win.

A big game against second placed Culmstock beckons next week where points are vital.

Shobrooke Park 2nd XI 201-8 (40 overs) Bruce Kerry 60, Tom Olive 3-55, Mike Summers 2-21 Kilmington 2nd XI 202-4 (34.3 overs) Hal Cook 100, Tom Olive 33*.