BIG hitter Jay Hussain got hold of the bowling to steer Abbotskerswell to a seven-wicket victory over winless Hatherleigh 2nd XI.

Hatherleigh, defending a total of 191 for seven, picked-off Abbots’ opener Richard Harmer then Charlie Hill while the ball was new, but had to wait a while for any other breakthroughs.

Hussain, in his new role opening the batting, flayed seven sixes and six fours on the way to making 76 off 63 balls.

Brayden Notman (64no) carried on after Hussain missed a straight one and won the game for Abbots during an unbroken stand of 59 with Tom Heath (19no).

Skipper Danny Forrester had rescued Hatherleigh from a nervy 89 for five with a top score of 36 not out.

Sam Clarke (22) and Cameron Rowlands (28) had already been and gone before Forrester linked up with Jack Probert (36) to post 51 for the sixth wicket.

Tom Strawbridge (29no) added exactly 50 with the captain before time ran out.

Hatherleigh only got small change out of bowling spells from Hussain (3-14), Max Yates (also 3.14) and Notman (3.67).

Meanwhile, Kingsbridge are still second in the Tolchards DCL C Division West thanks to a 70-run win over second-bottom South Devon.

James Westlake must like something about the South Devon bowling as he took another century off them! He reached exactly a hundred this time, three runs fewer than last season’s tally.

Freddie Ford made 55 – he and Westlake put on 133 for the first wicket – and there were more runs to come from Felix Iles (32) and a staggering 51 extras in a team total of 318 for nine.

Bowling successes were hard to find in South Devon’s scorecard, although Alan Berchams (4-43) did open his account with Westlake’s wicket.

South Devon were 248 for nine in reply. which was a definite improvement on all their previous games. It was their first total above 160 this season.

Jonty Tupman (20) and Jalal Ahmed (40) got away to a 64-run start, Aaron Hammett (21) and Jack Allen. (40) kept going and there was 33 for Dan Yates before the reply tailed-off. Fifty-four extras earned South Devon a batting bonus point!

There were two wickets each for Town seamers Richard Carr and Flynn Taylor. Bhanu DeSilva had three for 36.