CHUDLEIGH and Plymouth 2nd XI fought each other to a standstill in a last-ball thriller at Kate Brook.

Chudleigh set Plymouth 205 to win in the C Division West encounter – and Plymouth reached the final one of their 45 overs seven runs short of victory.

The target was two to win from Will Heather’s final ball to Tom Hughes, who could only scuttle a single to tie the game on 204 for five.

Hughes finishes on 45 not out with skipper James Toms unbeaten on 44 at the other.

There were runs at the top of the order for opener Andy Birkett – he made a patient 30 – and a useful 21 from left-hander Dinitha Onel.

Heather was the lone Chudleigh bowler to take more than one wicket. Spinners Luke Quaintance (3.44) and in particular Mark Halse (2.78) bowled economical nine-over spells.

Chudleigh had struggled for runs against the new ball and in particular young opening bowler Evan Burke. He had three wickets in a running total of 12 for four.

Alex Haywood (43) and Nick Halse started the comeback with a stand of 77, which was continued when Mark Halse joined his brother on 90 for five.

Mark Halse made 62 in a stand of 89 with his sibling, who was 68 not out in the final total of 204.

Elsewhere, South Devon missed a chance to edge towards safety when they lost at home to Hatherleigh by three wickets.

South Devon owed a large slice of their 245 for six total to a stand of 139 between Aaron Hammett (64) and Ryan Maunder (63).

Hatherleigh bowlers Tom Strawbridge (2-22) and Henry D’alberti-Nicholson (1-21) gave South Devon little to go after.

Hatherleigh won it with exactly four overs to spare. A stand of 124 for the third wicket between Danny Forrester (73) and Adam Quick (71) put them in the driving seat.

Although Jack Allen (2-54) and Alan Berchams (3-59) induced a late wobble, Strawbridge (14no) and Luke Wescott (8no) saw it through.

Meanwhile, frontrunners Ipplepen cruised to a seven-wicket win over Paignton 2nd XI in a one-sided meeting at Moor Lane.

Without a patient 63 from Paignton’s Neil Hancock against one of his former clubs, Paignton would have struggled to reach three figures.

A stand of 57 for the third wicket between Hancock and Matt Lipton (23) was the only one of note in Paignton’s all-out score of 156.

Seven bowlers took wickets for the Pens. Henry Alsop (2-35), James Ingram (2-11) and Andrew Bligh (2-8) were the most effective.

Ipplepen openers Marcus Gadie (39) and Joe Parker (58) made the outcome a formality by wiping 114 off the target.

Wickets for the Woodcock brothers – two for George, one for Sam – barely slowed the chase. Jono Colgate was 19 not out at the other end from Warrick Green when four byes settled it.

Lastly, Abbotskerswell’s winning streak continued with a 16-run victory at Brixham.

Veteran opener Richard Harmer (56) and Jay Hussain (32) gave Abbots an 82-run start that was consolidated on by Brayden Notman (20) and Tom Heath.

A stand of 53 down the order from Alfie Harrison (22) and ex-skipper Aron Owen (30) proved more than useful getting to 226 all out.

Former Devon paceman Mark Orchard (4-53) was Brixham’s leading wicket taker. Mo Shaihk (2-31) and Gangul Ravina (2-32) gave nothing away.

Brixham were never far from the asking rate thanks to knocks of 55 from Shaikh, 41 from Ravina and 29 not out down the order from Tim Robinson. What they struggled with was keeping wickets in hand before the last push.

Harrison Vickery (2-48). Hussain (3-40), Notman (2-43) and Max Yates (2-21) all took wickets to send Brixham from 170 for six to 210 all out.