IVYBRIDGE signalled their promotion intentions for the C Division West season ahead with a thumping 134-run win over fancied Brixham.
Top-order runs from Abraham Kopparambil (36) and Adam Huxtable (24) got the Bridge moving. Harry Solomon anchored the middle order with a patient 51 off 89 balls and was the last man out in a total of 209 for eight.
Ayash Upamal (35) shared a stand of 59 with Soloman, who added a further 37 with skipper Josh Zimmerman (17).
Brixham, last season’s runners-up, found wickets hard to come by. Matt Parsons (3-47) and Brad McKee (2-48) had the most success.
Brixham were all out for a paltry 75 in response with no batter making more than the 25 extras chucked at them in wides.
Wickets were shared between eight of the nine bowlers Zimmerman turned to. Only Josh Coker (2-15) and Lewis Clarke (2-4) had more than one.
Zimmerman said he felt the first game of the season could not have gone any better.
“It was the perfect early season game for us,” said Zimmerman.
“Six people in double figures with the bat; eight different wicket takers with the ball – and we fielded brilliantly!”
SAM Kidd performed the hat-trick for Ivybridge 2nd XI in their six-wicket win over Abbotskerswell 2nd XI at Filham Park.
Mark Bryant (32) and skipper Tom Heath (36) got Abbots away to a decent start before the middle order ran into trouble against Kidd and Bishan Kuruppu.
Kidd knocked over Jamie Lock, Gary Caunter and Tom Askew one after the other on the way to his hat-trick and a three-for 11 haul.
Kuruppu took three more wickets for 19 runs conceded as Abbots slowed to 45 for eight after 45 overs.
Kidd (26) and skipper Sam Northmore (25) opened-up with a 57-run stand that put Ivybridge on course for victory.
Alfie Lewis-Frost (21) and Matt Dardis (15) were the not out batters when the winning post was passed.
CORNWOOD got their Premier Division campaign up and running with a four-wicket home win over Bovey Tracey.
Bovey were all out for 161 in the 42nd of their 50 overs with Pete Bradley top scoring on 32.
Cornwood newcomer Josiah Caunter (3-7) cleaned-up at the end after Ben Beaumont and Naveen Fernando bowled tightly with little reward earlier.
Alex Shutt, a Devon age-group player newly arrived from Yelverton, impressed with figures of 5-1-13-1 – the one being overseas dangerman Twala.
Beaumont (30) and Matt Skeemer (34) got the chase up to 82 for three. After a brief lull Fernando (32) and Chris Parker (21) whittled the target down. Skipper Elliott Staddon (17no) was in at the end.
Best of the bowling for Bovey with two for 28 from nine overs was Ollie Clifford-Bourne.