Devon Cricket Board - Orchard takes four in last hour

Orchard takes four in last hour

MARK Orchard capped a good day for Devon with a four-wicket haul as they ended the first day against Wales 138 runs ahead.

Orchard, who commutes from Brixham to Exmouth to play league cricket, gave Wales something to think about with a four-for -19 haul.

Chasing Devon’s 257 all out – Callum Whittaker making 68 on his debut and Rhys Davies 69 – Wales were 59 for one when Orchard came on.

In seven overs the fiery paceman successfully found the edge three times then induced Aneurin Norman to poke a catch to point.

Wales were 99 for five when Norman trudged off and battened down the hatches for the final 10 overs, meandering to 118 for five at the close.

Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket, said it was an impressive spell of bowling from Orchard (pictured), and one the team needed.

“Wales were going along well when ‘Scrumpy’ came on and we needed to nip a few of them out,’ said Donohue.

“He is a hostile bowler – he looks for wickets – and as I have said before he makes things happen.”

Whittaker, one of two debutants in the side, won a pat on the back from Donohue for a job well done.

James Toms, the former Barton and Torquay batsman currently featuring for Plymouth with Whittaker, was less successful.

Opener Toms was out for a five-ball duck, not that Donohue was too concerned.

“Opening batsmen face opening bowlers with a new ball in their hand and on a day like today when it was muggy there is always the danger of nicking one early,” said Donohue.

“It is an occupational hazard of being an opening batsman and not worth worrying about.”

After Toms and Peter Bradley went for eight runs on the board, Whittaker held the top half of the order together. Along he way there were stands of 34 with David Lye (18), 48 with Josh Bess, who was caught on the boundary for 28, and 33 with Matt Golding.

When Whittaker fell to a catch in the gulley after 182 minutes at the crease, he was replaced by Davies, whose innings was played to a different beat.

Davies thumped 68 off 69 balls with eight fours and three long sixes off left-arm spinner Nick Davies.

“I swear one of them was still climbing when it cleared the trees at the other end of the ground,” said Donohue.

Pick of the Wales bowlers with five for 59 was Dewi Jones. Davies, despite the harsh treatment dished out by Davies, bowled 21 overs for 57 runs.

Devon 257 (C P Whittaker 68, R W Davies 69, M C Golding 35, J J Bess 28; D P Jones 5-59, K A Bull 2-36), Wales 118-5 (J R Murphy 41; M A Orchard 4-19). Bonus points: Devon (4), Wales (4).

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