After their opening day win, Ashburton travelled to play South Devon on Saturday. Skipper Edmonds promptly won his second toss of the season and elected to bat on a good looking strip.
The innings started badly, as previous week centurion Lloyd White mistimed a drive and was caught. George Yabsley (26) and Ashley Berry rebuilt the innings but when Berry was dismissed for a patient 35 and James Fraser quickly followed to Noah Rider (3 for 41) Ashes were in a spot of bother at 115 for 5. Dan Coles ensured a respectable total was posted by batting through the remainder of the innings. Good support was provided by Edmonds (12) and Matt Churchill (18) as a final total of 211 all out was posted with Coles last man out, run out off the penultimate ball of the innings for a well made 61.
The consensus at tea was that this total may be slightly below par and a good start was needed with the ball. James Fraser duly obliged with a rapid opening burst clean bowling 3 of the South Devon top order reducing them to 25 for 3. However, Rider batted sensibly to get South Devon back in the game and with good support from Liam Price (16) and Paul Hooper (30) South Devon started to take control of the game. With just 44 needed from 7 overs, 5 wickets in hand and Rider going well, Fraser returned for his second spell and, in partnership with Yabsley, Ashburton started to apply some pressure and the required run rate started to increase. The clinching moment was when Fraser clean bowled Rider for an excellent 77 and went on to complete his 5-fer 2 balls later as South Devon fell just 9 runs short on 202 for 9. Fraser finishing with figures of 5 for 31 and Yabsley 3 for 40.
After the game skipper Edmonds said "A really good, competitive game and we were delighted to come out on top. We batted fairly well but kept losing wickets as partnerships were developing. Ash and Colesy batted very well and got us over the 200 mark, which is always a good target to post first up. It was great to see Frase bowling like the wind again and when he ripped through their top order we were right on top, but, credit to South Devon, they batted very well through the middle overs to get themselves right back in it. We stayed calm, did the basics right and, with some good bowling and fielding, the pressure eventually told. We've got positives to take from the game, as well as a few things to work on for next week.".
Pictured is first XI captain Steve Edmonds awarding James Fraser his club cap.
Ashburton second team hosted Yelverton seconds and emerged with a creditable 53 run win.
After winning the toss, Ashburton had a good start through openers Phil Pascoe (20) and Toby Pascoe (26). Marcus West then joined Toby Pascoe and advanced the score to 100 for 1. Wickets then fell regularly at one end to Toby Julyan (4 for 24) and Phil Morris (4 for 52) as West accumulated runs at the other. He finished unbeaten on a fine 84 as Ashes were all out for 183 with 5 overs remaining.
Ashes then started well as Robin Lambert (1 for 13) picked up a wicket with the first ball of the innings but Ross Potter (50), Lee Foskett (29) and Lee Johns (19) fought back and took the score to 83 for 2. Jerry Crouch (4 for 21) and George Marshall (2 for 32) then sparked a collapse that saw Yelverton subside to 130 all out.
On Sunday Ashburton travelled to play Cullompton in a South Devon League clash. Ashburton recovered well from 3 for 2 to post 299 for 8 in their 40 overs. New overseas player Aditya More was chiefly responsible with a fine knock of 122 before he sportingly retired. He was well backed up by Steve Edmonds (51), Marcus West (49) and AJ West (24no).
Cullompton lost wickets regularly through their innings as only Euan Tinley (54) and Nathan Vincent (52) made any serious headway and they were all out for 188 with 20 balls remaining. Robin Lambert (2 for 16), Steve Reynolds (2 for 30) and Edmonds (2 for 22) were the pick of the bowlers.
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