Ashburton first team welcomed Teignmouth & Shaldon first team to The Varwell.
On a track that was very damp the visitors won the toss and asked the hosts to have a bat. Openers Jake Pascoe and Lloyd White took ten off the first over and kept the board moving at a steady rate thereafter as Ashes reached 95 without loss after 25 overs. Shortly after, with the score on 99, White was bowled for 29 agonisingly one run short of the century stand and, with the total on 112, Pascoe also departed as he was caught behind for a magnificent 68. The rest of the batsman found runs hard to come by on the slow pitch and a succession of wickets fell with only skipper Ash Berry (27), in at first wicket down, making any headway before he was out off of the final ball of the innings as Ashburton finished on 162 for 9 after their 45 overs.
The Teignmouth innings followed a similar pattern as openers Seamus McKenna (41) and Todd Ballman (26) put on 78 for the first wicket, although Ballman was fortunate to survive on two occasions when he was first caught behind off a no ball from Steve Edmonds and then, shortly after, Edmonds nipped one back that brushed the off stump and the bail only partially dislodged.
The introduction of Matt Coon into the attack changed the game as he dismissed McKenna in his first over, picked up two further wickets in his second over and then a fourth in his third over as Teignmouth dipped to 80 for 4. Will Greenwood (36) fought back as this became 123 for 4 and Teignmouth were again favourites, before Coon broke the stand. Wickets then continued to fall regularly to Coon and Chris Yeo (2 for 36) as Teignmouth crept closer to the required total. With just 4 runs required and the last pair at the crease for Edmonds returned to pick up the final wicket as Teignmouth were all out for 159. Coon finishing with the staggering figures of 9 overs, 1 maiden, 7 wickets for 43 runs.
After the game skipper Berry said "We always have a good game with Teignmouth and this wasn't any different. Jake batted like it was a road and got us to a decent total. Then it was the Matt Coon show in the second half as we searched for length. Ably supported by Chris Yeo, we took control and felt more confident as the wickets fell. Credit to Teignmouth's youngsters, they'll be a handful in a few years time. A much better performance from us, so onwards and upwards.".
Link to scorecard - https://www.play-cricket.com/website/results/4137384
Match photos (credit Julian Preston) - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=julian.preston.14&set=a.10159257469227357
Matt Coon who took 7 wickets in Ashburton first team's match on Saturday.
Ashburton second team travelled to play Torquay seconds. The home side, who were unbeaten and top of the table, amassed 234 for 4 in their 40 overs. Toby Pascoe (2 for 26) was the pick of the bowlers and there were wickets for Robin Lambert and Luke Pascoe.
Only Martin Causey (23) made any headway for Ashburton as they dipped to 48 for 5 and 60 for 7. Jack Warren (12) and Robin Lambert (15no) showed some fight as they added 28 for the eighth wicket and then Ashton West (4no) joined Lambert to bat out the final overs as Ashes reached 97 for 8 after their 40 over allocation.
Link to scorecard - https://www.play-cricket.com/website/results/4138154