Devon Cricket Board - May races to double hundred after being dropped in single figures

May races to double hundred after being dropped in single figures

CLYST St George batsman Steve May flogged a double hundred in the 2^nd XI’s 135-run win over Babbacombe.
May, who went in with the score on 30 for three, batted through for an unbeaten 207 in a Clyst total of 358 for five.
Along the way he put on 154 with youngster Ed Middleton (51) and 132 unbroken with Sean Coe (56no).
May (pictured), dropped before reaching 10, blasted 16 sixes and 22 fours during his stay in the middle.
Babbacombe made a respectable 223 for six in reply – Coe taking three for 41 and Middleton two for 24.
May has a reputation in the lower divisions of the Devon League as a rumbustious hitter – and has made a double hundred once before playing for Exmouth Raleigh.
He said his one crept up on him by accident due to a couple of hefty overs.
“Going in at 30 for three I thought it best to bat properly, which I did at first, “ said May.
“Then I just seemed to take off and before I knew it had reached a hundred.
“A couple of overs game along that I took 30 off and suddenly I was up to 160.
“Then I started to think there was a chance of getting 200 as it wasn’t far away. I was getting a bit tired by then, but got there with three overs to go with Sean pulling me along.
“I blocked out the last over to stay not out and preserve my average!”
Former Clyst batsman Bob Merrifield was the first Devon League player to make a double century when he took 255 off Cornwood in 1984.
May said he decided not to have a go at breaking Merrifield’s score, which still stands as a record for all divisions in the competition.
“I had three overs to go when I got to 200 so I suppose it might have been possible, but I was too tired by them to even contemplate it,” said May.

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