Ashbburton first team entertained a Plymouth second team who had beaten them in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. Ashburton skipper Ash Berry lost the toss as usual and Ashes were asked to field on a sweltering hot day.
Plymouth made steady progress reaching 38 for 2 as Steve Edmonds (2 for 23) gave little away and picked off both openers, Ollie Parsons in and out for 20. Brothers Will Coon (4 for 38) and Matt Coon (2 for 36) then ran through the rest as only Adam Talbott (33) and Tom Hughes (28) stuck around for any length of time. Plymouth all out for 136 in 31.1 overs.
Ashes lost opener Matt Churchill for 3 but rebuilt as Jake Pascoe (19) and Berry added 70 runs. Dan Coles then joined his skipper and the pair knocked off the rest without further mishap as Ashes reached 140 for 2 in 35.1 overs. Berry finished unbeaten on 49 and Coles unbeaten on 36.
After the game skipper Berry said "I've used the word clinical quite often this season and this performance was very much again. We've really progressed as a team this year and I'm very proud to see the improvement. A really good day for the club as both teams brought back 20 points each as we look to consolidate our positions for the final weekend.".
Will Coon who took 4 for 38 on Saturday (credit Julian Preston)
Ashburton second team travelled to play Cornwood thirds and emerged with a comfortable 6 wicket win.
Chris Yeo (3 for 32) Jerry Crouch (2 for 37) and Robin Lambert (2 for 42) combined to bowl Cornwood out for 181. There were also single wickets for youngsters Luke and Toby Pascoe.
Ashburtons reply was well led by Phil Pascoe (53) who received good support from Tony Lacey (17) as the score advanced to 101 for 3. Yeo then dominated the rest of the innings as he clubbed an unbeaten 65. He was well backed up by Toby Pascoe (15) in a stand of 63 that took Ashes to the brink of victory. The winning line passed shortly after with 29 balls to spare.
On Bank Holiday Monday Ashburton entertained touring side Aldenham who were invited to bat. Robin Lambert made an early breakthrough but Ashes then toiled in the field as Aldenham reached 110 for 1. The introduction of Jake Pascoe (4 for 23) prompted a flurry of wickets, two to run outs, in the final overs as Ashes pulled the run rate back and Aldenham finished on 192 for 8 after their 35 overs.
Ashburton's reply started well as Dan Coles (25) and Pascoe (20) put on 46. When both fell in quick succession Lloyd White and Arun Karthick (38) kept the runs coming. When Karthick was dismissed the required rate had reached 8 an over and Matt Churchill (19) played a brisk cameo to keep the chase going. When he fell Matt Coon joined White and they continued to chip away at the target. With 30 required off the last 3 overs White hit a succession of boundaries and the last over was reached with 11 needed. White scored 7 off the first five balls leaving Coon on strike for the last delivery needing 4 to win. He promptly launched the ball out of the ground for six to give Ashburton the win. White finished unbeaten on 62 and Coon unbeaten on 14.