CHARLIE Hill hit an unbeaten century for Abbotskerswell in their four-wicket win over previously unbeaten Braunton on the Two-Mile Oak ground.

It was Abbotskerswell’s first league win of the season and moved them off the bottom of the table.

Theo Valeri (76) and tail-ender James Lake (21) dug Braunton out of trouble at 48 for eight with a stand worth 61 towards a final total of 218 all out.

Abbots dished up 57 in extras – 47 of them wides – to give the runs-scored column a handy boost.

Chris Clough (3-42) led the bowling effort for Abbots. There were two wickets each for Harrison Vickery and Alfie Harrison. Jay Hussain (0-16 off 7) bowled 30 dot balls and gave little away.

Hill sparked the chase into life by hitting Lake’s first ball for four – and added 21 more on the way to an unbeaten 113!

Best of the supporting acts on the way to victory was left-hander Richard Harmer with 30. He and Hill put on 130 for the first wicket.

Lake finished with respectable figures of four for 44. – the last three in the space of four balls on the last lap to an Abbots’ win.

Ed Smout-Cooper, the Abbotskerswell captain, knew exactly where to start handing out the praise.

“Charlie Hill was fantastic for his 100,” said Smout-Cooper.

“We all know Charlie’s quality and it was great to see him play an innings that confirms it.

“Charlie was truly dominant and dismissive. He was well supported by our top order, but it really was his day.”

Smout-Cooper felt Abbots’ bowling game improved and he wrote off the 47 wides as ‘a few freak overs’.

“Had it not been for Valeri, who batted superbly, we could've had Braunton all out for well under a par score,” said Smout-Cooper.

“I'd still like to see us step up another gear with the ball because, as we've learned from the last two weeks, it won't always come so easily.”

LUKE Domaschenz clattered an unbeaten century to steer Budleigh Salterton to an eight-wicket win over Ipplepen.

Budleigh were asked to improve on Pens’ total of 213 all out – and did it with time to spare.

A stand of 134 for the first wicket between Domaschenz and Luke Davies (70) pointed Budleigh in the right direction.

Domaschenz went on to reach 103 not out as the runs were knocked off with more than 14 overs to go.

Ipplepen’s batting effort was solid rather than spectacular with runs sprinkled all through the order.

Skipper Matt Beasant made 32, Reuben Stanley top-scored on 36, Toby Holroyd (24) and George Tapley (21) both chipped in, and there was 34 at the end from Ross Kennard.

Best of the bowling for Budleigh came from skipper Ed Doble (3-29) and Sid Fereday (3-41).

Beasant said his side only put in a 50 percent performance, which cost them.

“There were lots of positives to take from the batting side,” said Beasant.

“Our bowling and fielding let us down, and the game got away from us too easily early doors.

“Ultimately, the better side won. Luke Domaschenz’s hundred was excellent, and well deserved.”

BOVEY Tracey 2nd XI registered their first B Division win of the season with a 68-run verdict over Clyst St George.

Although Bovey lost opener Brad Causey in the first over, that was not a real setback as they went on to make 304 for six in a 45-over game.

Second-wicket pair Jamie Bishop and Sam Veal (27) were the warm-act with a stand of 42. After that it was carnage as Veal, Ed Foreman and Dan Green dispatched Clyst’s bowling to all parts of the ground … and out of it too!

Veal and Foreman put on 113 for the third wicket, of which Foreman made 76 off 56 balls with 11 fours and three sixes.

Green, a real press-on merchant, clubbed seven four and six sixes on the way to 72 off 40 balls in a partnership worth 116. Veal was still there at the end on 87 not out.

Clyst had a top-order wobble between 50 for one and 55 for four – Charlie Hill (4-41) largely responsible – which did their prospects no favours.

Wiehann Mayer (43) got the board moving – and half centuries from Steve Bourke and Bertie Creer nudged the total along to 177 for six. Creer (54) was the last man to go in Clyst’s total of 236 all out. Ben Steer (4-46) tidied up at the end.

Said Green: “It was nice to get our first win and see lads do their jobs. There remain some improvements to be made, but a great effort all round.”