Ashburton first team hosted Plymouth 2nds in round 17, desperately needing a win to try and secure their C West status.
Skipper Edmonds won the toss, decided to bat and may have been regretting this choice at 28 for 3. Ash Berry and Aditya More (31) got the board moving in the right direction, but More's dismissal saw another mini collapse to 79 for 6. Berry and Matt Churchill added a further 48 before Berry fell for a dogged 32 and then Churchill and James Fraser produced an excellent 8th wicket partnership of 58. Fraser fell for a run a ball 21, but Churchill continued to strike the ball cleanly to all parts as he finished unbeaten on 84 from just 66 balls taking Ashes to an imposing final total of 206 for 9 in their 45 overs.
Ashes started superbly with the ball giving little away. Fraser was luckless at one end beating the outside edge countless times while Edmonds (3 for 28) picked off the top 3 at the other end with only John Kerridge (21) making much headway. Spinners More and Chris Yeo were then introduced and ran through the rest of the Plymouth lineup with the minimum of fuss, Alex Hill (27) the only other Plymouth batter into double figures. More finished with 4 wickets for 5 runs from his 4 overs and Yeo 3 wickets for 16 runs from his 6 overs as Plymouth were all out for 71 in the 26th over.
After the game skipper Edmonds said "A very solid performance from the boys when we really needed it. People put their hands up and took responsibility, which was great to see. Bez, Adi and Frase all made vital contributions, but it was Coachy who gave us an above par score with one of the best knocks we've seen this season. The bowlers then backed this up to make sure Plymouth never really had a sniff of victory. Frase bowled great up top and Adi and YoYo ran through them. There's still work for us to do on Saturday at Cornwood, but if we take the same approach into that game, I'm confident that we'll get the points we need.".
Matt Churchill whose superb 84 helped Ashburton first team to victory.
Ashburton second team travelled to play Teignmouth and Shaldon 2nds. The hosts amassed 267 for 6 in their 40 overs thanks to Daniel O'Connell (76), William Moore (57), Will Greenwood (43) and Mark Jameson (37no). Marcus West (3 for 76) and Rob Lambert (2 for 36) the pick of the Ashes bowlers.
The reply was based around another sensational knock from the ever reliable West who went in at first wicket down and batted through for an unbeaten 124. He was well supported by Lambert (35) with the two adding 155 for the fourth wicket. Ashes finishing their 40 overs on 204 for 4 picking up maximum batting points.
On Sunday Ashburton welcomed touring side Aldenham. The visitors were invited to bat and were bowled out for 196 in their 40 overs. Robin Lambert took 2 wickets with the new ball and there were also braces for Aditya More and Alex Hayman, his first wickets in a senior match. More also held on to two brilliant catches.
The Ashes reply started badly as two early wickets were lost, but Phil Pascoe (77) and Dan Coles (71no) added 120 for the third wicket. More (28no) then joined Coles as the target was reached in the 36th over for the loss of just 3 wickets.