NEWTON Poppleford plucked defeat from the jaws of victory when chasing down a modest 93 all out registered by Tipton St John in the East Devon Indoor Cricket League, writes John Goodwin.

Tipton’s progress had been hampered when Ken Clay sent down a double wicket maiden in the ninth over to turn a respectable 57-3 into a shaky 57-5. Paul Williamson soldiered on alone to make 36 until Clay caught him off the bowling of Alex Raistrick in the final over.

Though Tom Clay and Alan Cardwell departed early in the reply, Ken Clay and Matthew Raistrick both reached the retirement score of 25. Things slowed up when they left the fray and with one over to go, to be sent down by David Birch, Newton Poppleford needed 14.

Clay struck the first ball for six, but was caught next one for 31. Four came off the third delivery, but a dot ball put pressure on last pair Matthew Raistrick and Dave Goldthorpe. It told, with Birch bowling them with his final two deliveries with the score stuck on 89.

?The league organisers now have to decide who goes forward to represent the competition in the county finals after Clyst Hydon beat Newton St Cyres to match Sidmouth’s points total. Clyst did their wickets average a power of good, making 172-3, before bowling St Cyres out for 98.

Graham Trude, Paul Milner and Clint Holmes were all not out with 36, 31 and 25 respectively, Simon Holmes was run out for 37 and Ian Sutton caught for 26. Top scorer of the match came from the losers’ Peter Church with an unbeaten 45.

?Clyst Hydon II made short work of Yarcombe & Stockland, dismissing them for 39 in six overs after posting a total of 124.

Will Greig contributed 46 of the winners’ total and Heffin Wood added 22. Lewis Morgan was Yarcombe’s nemesis, taking 3-6 in two overs. His second over would have been a wicket maiden but for one wide. Mike Oberholster sent down six wides but still mopped up the other three wickets for 15.

?Clyst St George made 89-4 against Exmouth, Clinton Lewis and Allan Welsh finishing unbeaten with 27 and 25 respectively, but it was never going to be enough once Richard Arnold and Tom Sampford set about the bowling.

Arnold retired on 24 and Sampford fell to a catch by Alice Johnson off father Mike’s bowling, leaving Stuart Cross and James Tapper to finish the job off in the seventh over with 20 and 15 respectively.