Ashburton travelled to play an Ivybridge side who had started the season well.
Skipper Steve Edmonds once again won the toss and elected to bat. Dan Coles (23) and Lloyd White (18) opened up with 47 before three wickets fell to leave them 53 for 3. Ashley Berry (30) and George Yabsley (25) kept things ticking in the middle overs before another cluster of wickets left Ashes 128 for 6 and in danger of not posting anywhere near a competitive score.
Skipper Edmonds then joined Ryan May who produced a remarkable innings clubbing the ball to all parts on his way to 88 from just 60 balls. Edmonds innings was just as valuable as he scored 39 at nearly a run a ball and together the pair added 118 for the seventh wicket, a new club record. This took Ashes to 254 for 8 from their 45 overs. A respectable score, but by no means a match winning one on a flat track and fast outfield.
Ashes started well with the ball as May picked up a wicket in his first over. Josh Zimmerman then started to find the boundary with regularity as he added 72 with Adam Huxtable (18). Matt Coon broke the stand, but this only brought Ivybridges's overseas Cebo Tshiki to the wicket.
In a huge moment all of the Ashburton players were convinced Coon had found the edge of Zimmerman's bat, but the home umpire was unmoved. Zimmerman capitalised by stroking his way to 109 from 98 balls. Tshiki was all class at the other end and also battered a blistering century as he finished unbeaten on 118 from just 66 balls, as the pair took Ivybridge all the way to victory by 8 wickets with 12.2 overs to spare.
Ryan May who top scored with 88 from 60 balls
Ashburton second team fared better as they dismissed Paignton 3rds for 74. Jake Bartram (3 for 7), AJ West (3 for 15), Luke Pascoe (2 for 12) and Greg Robinson (2 for 23) all in the wickets.
The Ashes innings started badly as captain Phil Pascoe was struck on the arm and had to depart to A&E to confirm that he had broken it. Ashes then slumped to 17 for 4 and 35 for 5, however opener Greg Robinson was still there and he pretty much single-handedly knocked off the remaining runs as Ashes were 5 wicket winners inside 19 overs. Robinson finishing unbeaten on exactly 50.
On Sunday Ashburton travelled to play Lustleigh in a South Devon League clash, which turned out to be an absolute nail biter.
Lustleigh won the toss and elected to bat and were indebted to John Wright's belligerent 114 for leading them to a total of 209 for 7 in their 35 overs. Steve Wright (22), H Bannister (20) and Mike Wright (19no) offered good support. Matt Churchill (3 for 29) and AJ West (2 for 27) were the pick of the Ashes bowlers
Ashes flew out of the blocks in reply as Jack Tolley (53) and Jon Malan (63) added 84 for the first wicket. Malan and Marcus West then took the score to 135, before a mini collapse left them 141 for 4 and then 157 for 5 with not much batting to come. Marcus Manners-Chapman (2 for 38) and Ed Griffin (2 for 30) doing the damage with the ball.
Dan Coles was still there and scoring freely, but needed support and young Nat Wood (5) did an excellent job as the pair added a further 28. Josh Bowden (12) then hit a couple of badly needed boundaries as Ashes got to the last over needing 6 to win. Bowden was run out off the first ball trying to scramble a single, bringing veteran Steve Reynolds to join Coles at the crease. Four singles followed and then Reynolds belied his years by scrambling back for 2 runs off the penultimate ball to leave the scores level and Coles on strike. With the field up, Coles tried to go over the top and was dismissed for 48 by a one handed catch to leave the two teams tied. A fitting end to a cracking game of cricket.
Scorecard -
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