Ashburton first team travelled to play Cornwood second team who were top of the C Division West table. After winning the toss skipper Ashley Berry elected to have a bowl. The hosts started well with an opening partnership of 116 in a little over 26 overs before Matt Coon made the breakthrough dismissing Jack Brown for 33. Surviving opener Robin Dart then dominated the rest of the innings, although he found little support as wickets tumbled regularly at the other end as Coon (4 for 42), Chris Yeo (1 for 30) and Matt Churchill (1 for 56) got stuck into the middle order. Dart, who rode his luck at times, reached his century and had got to 122 before the returning Steve Edmonds (2 for 30) dismissed him and wrapped up the innings next ball as Cornwood were all out for 207. A decent comeback as 250 plus had looked on the cards at halfway.
The Ashburton innings got off to the worst possible start as in-form opener Jake Pascoe was unluckily adjudged LBW for 5. Lloyd White (31) and Berry (14) took the score to 62 before Berry's dismissal sparked a collapse to 76 for 6. The lower order fought back as Steve Edmonds (26), Matt Churchill (19) and Ryan May (25) all kept up with the asking rate but unfortunately wickets continued to fall and Ashes were all out for 174 with 5.1 overs remaining.
After the game skipper Berry said "I was really pleased how we brought it back in the first innings as they were 116 for 0, but we were one partnership light in the chase. We've got all the pieces, we just need to fit them all together".
Link to scorecard - https://www.play-cricket.com/website/results/4137347
Ashburton second team entertained Paignton third team and elected to bat after winning the toss. The innings revolved around yet another find innings of 70 from opener Marcus West. He was well supported by George Marshall (9), Toby Pascoe (20) and Greg Robinson (10) as Ashes reached 125 for 2. Unfortunately wickets then tumbled in the hunt for quick runs at the back end of the innings as Ashburton were bowled out for 166 off of the last ball. Jerry Crouch finishing 9 not out.
Paignton's innings also revolved around their opener, Jason Woodcock, who made 94 not out. Will Coon (2 for 21), Robin Lambert (1 for 22), AJ West (1 for 36) and Jerry Crouch (1 for 40) all kept things tight and picked up wickets at the other end but Woodcock saw his side home for the loss of 5 wickets with 17 balls to spare.
Link to scorecard - https://www.play-cricket.com/website/results/4138144
Link to match pictures (credit Julian Preston) - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=julian.preston.14&set=a.10159216935802357
Marcus West on his way to 70 for Ashburton seconds versus Paignton thirds on Saturday (credit Julian Preston)