Devon Cricket League 1st XI C division west

Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough 254-4;

Kingsbridge

(seven points)

lost to PCS and R (18) by six wickets

Kingsbridge won the toss and batted on a decent looking batting strip and so it proved to be.

There was early life and swing, but Brad­bury and Westlake started to see the shine off until two wickets fel in the same over, leaving Kings 32 for 1.

Westlake was looking solid if not his usual bellligerent self as he and Shephard put on 94 for the third before Shephard, looking in no trouble, was lbw sweeping for 42.

Westlake perished unluckily for a a fine 60, inside edging on to his pads which then diverted the ball into his stumps, to leave Kings 145 for 4 with 12 to go.

Browne's good form continued, depositing the ball into the field until he picked the fielder on the boundary to depart for 49 with the scare at 201 for 5.

As has been Kingsbridge's wont this season, the knack of losing wickets just at the wrong time had struck again and it was left to Rosewarne to strike some lusty blows in his 28 not out to take Kings to 253 for 7.

With a lightning outfield and lacking de Silva due to a further family bereavement and Carr due to child-minding committments, Kings' bowling attack was a bit thin and 50 more runs would have been useful.

Civil, despite the loss of an early wicket to Peach, began well, punishing any wide deliveries, and as the pitch got better and better they raced along between five and six an over.

Kingsbridge didn't bowl particularly badly and were not helped by missing four chances, none particularly easy.

Pike, after his midweek heroics, had a spell to forget, going for 57 in his four overs as Civil won by six wickets with four overs to spare. Peach finished with figures of 1 for 40 off nine overs, Rosewarne 1 for 51 off nine and Shephard 1-42 off seven.

The match ball was sponsored by David Lawrence.

Wednesday had seen Kingsbridge entertain Ivybridge in the Corinthian Cup.

Obviously watching too much Twenty20 on the television, Kings­bridge went off like a train, John Hardy taking 17 off the first over.

Runs flowed but so did wickets and after five overs Kingsbridge were 65 for 6.

Pike and Bradbury then took stock and, playing sensibly, took the total past 100 and a defendable total.

Bradbury made 19 and Pike 33 as the tail wagged and kings made 154 in their 16 overs.

Ivybridge were confident as they play two divisions above, but Kingsbridge's bowling was good and fielding excellent as all bowlers bowled well.

De Silva was back to his miserly best with 2 for 15 from his four overs but it was the mercurial Pike who removed the cream of the batting, taking 4 for 39 as Kings won by 44 runs.

The match ball was kindly sponsored by Palladium.