DCL 1st XI C Division

Kingsbridge 262-2, Chagford 116 all out. Kingsbridge 1st XI

(20 points) beat Chagford 1st XI

(two) by 146 runs

Saturday saw Kings travel to Chagford, and on a glorious summer's day Kings made up for the disappointment of last week's result by producing their best performance of the season.

Into the team came debutants Will Matthewman and Elliot Bradbury. Kings skipper James Fletcher won the toss and without hesitation decided to bat first on what seemed a belter of a wicket.

However, Kings made the worst possible start, losing Westlake to the second ball of the day, adjudged LBW with the ball appearing to be missing the stumps.

This brought Will Matthewman to the crease alongside Fletcher. Chagford's opening bowlers Dave Lammonby and Gary Sizmur were bowling in good areas and runs were difficult to come by.

Fletcher and Matthewman managed to negotiate the early stages without any further losses and were now becoming more accustomed to the wicket. At the first drinks break Kings had reached 60-1 from 15 overs.

The pair grew in confidence and together they were forming a solid platform for the innings. Towards the mid-point of the innings Fletcher reached his 50, and soon after Matthewman followed suit.

At this point Chagford were desperate for a wicket and they were being made to toil in the searing heat. A second drinks came and went with Kings on 141-1 from 30 overs, but 250-plus was a must due to an excellent batting wicket and fast outfield to match.

The batting powerplay was taken and the run rate was improving rapidly, which saw Kings nearer the 200 mark. Fletcher soon brought up his first and well deserved century of the season.

After two inventive boundary shots, he was eventually caught in the deep and departed for an excellent knock of 109 that included 16 fours and a six. This also brought an end to a massive 210-run partnership.

Chris Bowles then joined Matthewman at the crease and took no time in unleashing a series of boundary hits to finish with a quickfire 30 not out.

Unfortunately Matthewman fell one short of his century, finishing 99 not out and agonisingly for him an umpire had missed one of his runs, which had been wrongly given as a bye.

However, it was a brilliant knock that included 13 fours, and at no stage did he look in any trouble. Kings closed their innings with a hefty score of 262-2 from their allotted 45 overs.

Chagford's reply mirrored Kings' start with the bat as Neal Peach trapped Pilor LBW with the third ball of the innings.

Intensity in the field was excellent and Kings soon picked up their second wicket in only the third over as wicketkeeper Westlake took a low catch from the bowling of James Shepherd.

This brought Chagford's dangerous overseas batsmen Divan Marais to the crease, the key wicket.

Neal Peach was continuing to bowl with great control presenting few scoring opportunities and soon picked up his second wicket, dismissing Fitzroy.

After some big hits from Marais, he soon perished to the bowling of deSilva, softly chipping one into the hands of Peach, much to the delight of the team. Chagford had now slumped to 49-5.

Peach continued to frustrate and picked up a well-deserved third wicket before finishing his spell, leaving Chagford 56-6.

Lammonby was Chagford's last hope, but when deSilva removed him for 31, thanks to a stunning overhead catch from Elliot Bradbury at mid-on, the game was over.

James Rosewarne soon finished off the match with two excellent yorkers, clean bowling Rowlands and Lammonby to leave Chagford all out for 116 inside 27 overs.

This was an emphatic all-round team performance and certainly their best of the season by far. Kings will be looking for more of the same when they entertain Clyst St George at the Butts tomorrow.

The club wishes to thank the Ring O'Bells for sponsoring the match ball.