Ashburton Chargers entertained Budleigh Salterton on Saturday and West Monkton on Sunday in their final preparations for the coming season.

On Saturday a strong Budleigh side were invited to bat on a challenging wicket with an outfield that made boundaries scarce. They were held to 89 all out in 38 overs with new recruit Steve Edmonds picking up 4 for 8 from his 5 overs. There were also braces of wickets for Chris Yeo, George Marshall and Jerry Crouch.

Ashes found runs just as hard to come by as they subsided to 24 for 5. Edmonds capped a fine all round display with 29 but when he departed they were all out for 70 with 3.2 overs remaining.

On Sunday Ashes fielded a side made up of mainly second eleven players and played a strong West Monkton side who were also invited to bat. Marcus West (8 overs, 1 for 19) and Robin Lambert (7 overs, 0 for 10) kept things tight in the early stages but some powerful hitting in the second half of the innings saw West Monkton reach 200 for 5 in their 40 overs. Rob Wall and 12 year old Freddie Harvey picked up a wicket each, the latter in their ever first adults game. Will Coon (6 overs, 2 for 22) also bowled well on his comeback after spending most of the 2018 campaign sidelined with a broken foot.

The Ashes reply was led by openers Lloyd White (46) and Marcus West (25) who put on a fine partnership of 74. However once they departed only Chris Pascoe (11) made double figures as the reply finished up well short on 113 for 7 after 40 overs.

Freddie Harvey being presented with his cap by Second XI skipper Nick Yabsley