UPLYME & Lyme Regis 210-8 (20pts) beat FILLEIGH 140 (6pts) by 70 runs

UPLYME & Lyme Regis’ trio of slow bowlers spun their side to victory at Filleigh in Devon League E Division on Saturday.

Jamie Toates returned figures of 4-26 in his nine overs, while Steve Howe and Neil Price shared four wickets as Uplyme broke their duck with a comprehensive 70-run triumph.

The visitors had been put into bat at the picturesque North Devon ground and, following a difficult start, totalled a healthy 210-8 from their 46 overs. Uplyme had slipped to a precarious 34-4 before brothers Ashley (32) and Adam Caddy (69) joined forces in an important fourth-wicket stand of 85 and Derek Wellman struck 34.

Filleigh countered with a barrage of runs but they were stopped in their tracks as the visitors’ slow bowlers turned the screw.

Commenting on the victory, skipper Ashley Caddy told the Lyme Regis News: “It was a long way to travel but it was worth it because we turned in a really good performance.

“I lost the toss but wasn’t too unhappy to be batting first because we knew it was a good wicket. But we also knew we needed to score more than 200 for maximum batting points, which we managed to do.

“They started well with the bat but I changed things around and our slow bowlers all bowled well. Neil Price went for absolutely nothing in his spell and beat the bat so many times.

“I was very impressed with Jamie Toates too. He didn’t get much of a chance at the end of last season but he has made himself available and came in and performed.”

He added: “I’m delighted to have got our first win. Our first game was a bit of a non-event because of the weather but it was important we got a victory on the board as early as possible.”

Uplyme were in real trouble once Mark Batey (9), Rob Thom (8) and Steve Batey (11) had all departed but it was the Caddy duo that rescued the innings.

That partnership wrestled the initiative back in their favour and the dependable Wellman’s lower-order contribution ensured the visitors had maximised their 46 overs.

Ashley Caddy (1-35) and Steve Batey (0-36) proved expensive with the new ball but Price (2-15) was a model of consistency during his superb spell.

With Price keeping the runs conceded at a premium, fellow tweakers Howe (2-12) and Toates cleaned up the tail with minimum fuss.

Uplyme will be without Adam Caddy and Price when they entertain in-form Honiton this Saturday (2pm).