UPLYME & LYME REGIS 207-6 (20pts) beat FILLEIGH 105 (4pts) by 102 runs

STEVE Batey’s Uplyme & Lyme Regis are now just two points behind second-placed Alphington in Devon League C Division East after a 102-run defeat of Filleigh at King George V Playing Fields.

After skipper Batey won the toss and elected to bat first, Jedd Whittington and Alfie Bellworthy managed an opening stand of 51.

Whittington made 44 before being caught and then Bellworthy’s stay came to an end when he was bowled by Hickman for six.

Richard O’Halloran (2) fell cheaply but handy contributions from Mark Batey (22) and Alex Richards (12) took the score to 113-5 with less than 15 overs to go.

A fantastic sixth-wicket partnership between the patient Adam Caddy and captain Batey saw the score to 207-6.

Caddy was run out off the last ball for a fine 51 and Batey was unbeaten on 45 from 43 balls.

Ryan Bowden (2-47) and Mark Prideaux (1-15) were the pick of the Filleigh bowlers.

Filleigh’s reply got off to a flyer as Mark Prideaux hit a quick-fire 33 before falling to Steve Batey.

Ollie Lee came into the attack and bowled his best spell of the season by far.

He dismissed Bowden (19) and claimed the scalps of Ward, Campbell and Ley for four, six and nought respectively.

Filleigh were under the cosh with the score on 78-5.

The big wicket of Simon Prideaux came and went as he was well held by Mark Batey in the deep having gone after the bowling of the Uplyme skipper.

Mark Batey also grabbed another catch off his brother’s bowling when Lothian went for nine.

Hickman went for broke before mistiming a drive to give Lee his first five-wicket haul.

A wicket each for Steve Batey and O’Halloran finished off the Filleigh innings.

Lee had the most impressive figures (5-28), Steve Batey’s were almost as good (4-27), while O’Halloran chipped in with 1-8.

Meanwhile, the Uplyme second XI endured a torrid afternoon as they were bowled out for just 31 by Shobrooke Park, who then completed a nine-wicket victory.