Devon Cricket Board - Sidmouth find Plympton tough nut to crack

Sidmouth find Plympton tough nut to crack

PLYMPTON showed where there’s life there’s hope by giving champions Sidmouth a run for their money.
Sidmouth won the game by 36 runs, but bottom-of-the-table Plympton were no push-over.
And if they can give Sidmouth a scare, there’s every reason to believe Plympton can find wins against lesser opposition that will get the off the relegation hook.
Plympton need to start winning soon though as they are 47 points away from safety at the foot of the table.
Sidmouth made 245 for eight in 50 overs, which was more than looked likely when they were 100 for five with Liam Lewis in and out for 48.
Tidy bowling from Matt Gregory (2-18), Josh Mailling (2-38) and Ryan Skinner (0-32) helped keep Sidmouth in check.
Veteran Anthony Griffiths (51no) played the elder statesman role in the latter part of the innings, putting on 63 with Will Sobczak (29), 32 with Nick Gingell (21) and a rapid 50 at the end with skipper Will Murray (29).
Plympton lost opener Tom Johnson sooner than they would have liked – stumped for 11 with the score in 37 – but made steady progress to 111 for two with Maillimg (24), David Ackford (24) and Dan Robotham (2) in the runs.
Plympton needed someone to go on to 50 or 60 to win the game – and the prime candidates mostly fell in a mini-collapse from 111 for two to 121 for five as Jake Fawcett (3-23) wheeled away..
Ollie Mulberry (26) and skipper James Carr (26) kept going but the clock was against them now.
Devon spinner Charlie Miles (3-30) got into the lower order as Plympton were bowled out for 209 in the 47th over.
Skipper Carr said after the humiliating defeat by Torquay the week before, Plympton got their pride back at Sidmouth.
“We all know we have a lot to do to keep ourselves up, so the rest of the season is about enjoying ourselves and showing we can compete,” said Carr
“The result against Torquay was embarrassing and a lot of sides going to Sidmouth after that would have rolled over.
“We made them work for it and set ourselves up quite nicely in the last 20.
‘We probably left ourselves 20 too many to get, but we went for it and picked up points in the process.
“Our bowlers were fantastic keeping them below 250, which was probably 20-25 more than they should have got. Our fielding was a bit slack at points.
“As long as we keep playing like that – win or lose – I can’t ask for much more from the lads.”
Griffiths, a former Sidmouth skipper, said Plympton were tougher than expected and looked nothing like a struggling side.
“Their bowling was decent and we were glad to get close to 250,” said Griffiths.
“Ackford batted a long time (77 balls) for his 24 and that put them behind the clock later in.
“They needed 80 off the last eight with four wickets left and were just about in it, but only just.
“Once we got James Carr out it was routine, but until then nothing was guaranteed.”

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