TORQUAY failed to make it past the semi-final stage at the Servicemaster Devon T20 play-off.After Exmouth had defeated Plymouth in the morning semi-final at Plympton CC, Torquay were up against North Devon in the second semi.
North Devon settled comfortably into the driving seat as Tom Ansell (39) and Quintin Dreyer (46) put on 97 for the first wicket in 13 overs.
Dreyer hit a six and four fours while Ansell chipped and ran for his 39, hitting just one boundary.
In the seen overs left North Devon took the score along to 164 for seven. There were cameo knocks of 21 off 12 balls for Callum French, 15 off 13 by Ed Yeo against his former club and Josh King’s 16 off 10.
Twenty20 cricket can be hard on bowlers, as Torquay spinner Matt Petherbridge (3-0-37-0) found out the hard way.
Torquay, who had Matt Thompson and Ryan Stevenson on county duty, were up against it from the start.
Skipper and opener Justin Yau was dismissed first ball – and it didn’t get any better as five more wickets went reaching 37.
Kazi Szymanski (10) and Joe Crooks (27) helped make the scoreline respectable, but the game was up by then.
Dryer, Sam Witheridge and King finished with two wickets each and Stef James bowled four overs for 15 runs as North Devon dismissed Torquay for 88 to win by 76 runs.
North Devon 164-7 (T Ansell 39, Q R Dreyer 46, C A French 21;’ M Pugh 2-35, N S Watkin 2-23), Torquay 88 (J Crooks 27; Q R Dreyer 2-14, S Witheridge 2-15, J V King 2-4). North Devon bt Torquay by 76 runs.
PLYMOUTH gave Exmouth a run for their money before bowing out of the Servicemaster Devon T20 play-offs at the semi-final stage.Mike Simmers top scored with 41 and Hal Kerton clattered 32 not out off 25 balls as Plymouth made 153 for eight in the morning semi-final.
Exmouth got over the line with three balls to spare – and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
“We bowled and fielded poorly, but fair play to Plymouth who struck the ball well and ran well,” said Exmouth captain Gary Chappell.
“We made up for it and batted really well and it was a great chase.”
The game had looked in the bag at 140 for two with four overs to go: then Gary Chappell got out for a top score of 46 and two more wickets went as 140 for two became 148 for five with eight balls to go.
Simmers – he made 41 in a running total of 86 for four – and Harry Ramsden (22) were Plymouth’s early run getters.
Jake Luffman (14) and Kerton put on 24 then Rob Bennett hit and ran for 19 off 11 balls in a late stand of 37.
Chappell (3-32) and Alvin Pollard (3-25) were Exmouth’s main wicket takers. Ian Bishop’s none for 24 off six overs was tidy in the context of the match.
Exmouth looked on course at 140 for two with David Lye scoring 59 off 46 – six fours and a six – Richard Baggs hitting 25 and Chappell on 46.
Kerton (2-15) got out Chappell and Lye then ran-out Jon Evennett as Exmouth wobbled.
Sandy Allen was still there and with Bob Dawson for company saw Exmouth over the line.
Plymouth 153-9 (M J Simmers 41, H D Ramsden 22, H J Kerton 32; G R Chappell 3-32, A Pollard 3-25), Exmouth 155-5 (R J Baggs 25, D F Lye 59, G R Chappell 46; B J Stein 2-28, H J Kerton 2-15).