Devon Cricket Board - Exeter edging towards safety

Exeter edging towards safety

EXETER moved further away from the Premier Division danger zone when the beat Bovey Tracey by 79 runs on the County Ground.
Ben Green made 59 and Miles Lenygon 49 not out in an Exeter total of 219 for nine.
Bovey lost run machine opener Malcolm Lake in the first over, meandered to 73 for six in reply and faded to 140 all out as the last four wickets went for 27 runs.
It was a big win for Exeter as it lifts them 12 points ahead of the second relegation spot currently filled by Paignton.
Skipper Miles Lenygon felt it was a job well done by his side.
“It was a solid performance,,” said Lenygon.
“We batted a bit smarter and bowled very well. Our four quicks were outstanding.”
Bovey stay fourth, where they have been for a while, but are now 41 points behind leaders Torquay and the best they can hope for is second place.
Exeter were 17 for two in the fifth over with openers Rob Holman and Luchiano Machado already out when Green went out to join Somerset staffer Alex Barrow.
Green followed his ton for Devon against Berkshire with a patient 59 in a stand of 55 with Barrow.
Green will be hooking up with England U19s any day now for their Ashes matches against Australian and Exeter will miss him.
After Barrow went to Sam Hickenbottom (2-32), Lenygon and Green pushed the score up to 139 for four with a partnership of 67.
Lenygon batted through to the end, wringing another 75 runs out of the bottom half of the order.
Pick of the Bovey bowlers were Lake (2-31), Hickenbottom and Ryan Bougourd (2-32).
When Bovey Tracey batted they laboured from the start against Green, George Greenway, Ollie Sale and Zak Bess.
Andy Fairbairn (32) and Ben Ayres (24) did put on 40, but that was for the seventh wicket and only started from a losing position of 73 for six.
Lenygon (2-17) and Tom Viljoen (3-30) in one of his rare appearances when rugby commitments permit, killed off the Bovey stragglers with the minimum of fuss.
Club captain Fairbairn said he had no complaints about losing and wondered where Exeter would be with better availability?
“Exeter were better than us and deserved their win,” said Fairbairn.
“We bowled well in general but we went around the park in the last three overs, which didn't help.
“Ben Green and Miles lenygon ground out decent 50s, whereas our batsman made starts without going on.
“Exeter’s seam attack was really impressive. They had four young lads, all with decent pace, hitting good areas.
“If Exeter had that attack every week, they would be top three in the division.”

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