Ashburton first team hosted Stoke Gabriel looking to continue their good recent form with several first team players missing .
Skipper Steve Edmonds won the toss and elected to bat and with both regular openers away he opened the batting with himself with Dan Coles. The pair added 37 before Coles was bowled and then Ash Berry (35) helped to take the score up to 120 for 1. Edmonds was then caught and bowled for a well compiled 61 and, with new batsman looking to score quickly in the last ten overs, this sparked a collapse to 152 for 8 as only James Fraser (10) made double figures. Matt Churchill (31no) and Chris Yeo (10no) then hit some lusty blows in the last few overs as Ashes finished their 45 overs on 183 for 8.
Stoke got off to a bad start as James Fraser (1 for 20) and Edmonds (2 for 19) reduced them to 10 for 2 and then 39 for 3 and when Liam Mair (14) fell at 55 for 4, Aditya More (3 for 36) proceeded to run through the middle order from one end while Jack Tolley accumulated runs at the other. At 79 for 8 Stoke looked completely out of the game, but Tolley had other ideas launching a succession of sixes out of the ground while Harrison Yeates (9) propped up an end. Chris Yeo (3 for 39) picked off Yeates with 69 still required and with just 36 needed to win and Ashes getting nervous, Tolley was dismissed for an excellent 80 as Matt Coon eventually clung on to a juggled catch.
After the game skipper Edmonds said "A very challenging week for the club in terms of availability, but we pulled through with a very satisfying win for the 1sts and a brilliant, gutsy performance from the 2nds. It's always close against Stoke, and after Bez and myself had got us to 119 for 1, we spluttered to 152 for 8 and it looked like we might have lost the initiative. A great knock from Matt, well supported by Frase and YoYo, got us over 180 and that made a big psychological difference for both teams. The spinners had the upper hand all day so it was no surprise that Adi and YoYo bowled well and picked up three wickets each and, although Jack got going at the end, having had them 79 for 8 we were always in control. Matt Coon finished off things in style with a beautifully judged juggling catch for the last wicket. Good momentum for us to take into the home game with Plymstock".
A severely depleted Ashburton second team travelled to play Babbacombe seconds. Babbacombe took full advantage of this amassing an imposing 284 for 2 in their 40 overs, Marcus West and Niall Kemp were the wicket takers.
The ever reliable West then led the batting reply with a well made 85 and with Adam Seedhouse-Evans (81) producing a quite sensational knock, Ashburton reached 170 for 2. Wickets then tumbled towards the end as Ashes finished their overs on a very creditable 214 for 7.
On Sunday Ashburton hosted Devon Medics looking for a win to seal the South Devon League title.
Matt Churchill won the toss and elected to bat and, after losing two early wickets, Aditya More (100 retired) and Churchill (80) produced a magnificent stand of 169 for the third wicket. Brad Causey (78) and Marcus West (22no) ensured no let up as Ashburton finished their 40 overs on 306 for 4.
In reply Medics were all out for 135. Ashton West (2 for 15) was the pick of the bowlers and there were single wickets for Rob Lambert, Liam Mansell, More, Steve Reynolds, Nathan Trott and Churchill as well as two sharp run outs from Churchill and Trott.
Ashburton's South Devon League winning side who defeated Devon Medics on Sunday.
Back row left to right - Matt Churchill (captain), Marcus West, Dan Coles, Steve Edmonds, Liam Mansell and Robin Lambert
Front row left to right - Steve Reynolds, AJ West, Brad Causey, Nathan Trott and Aditya More
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