Devon Cricket Board - Stein does it again for Plymouth

Stein does it again for Plymouth

PLYMOUTH returned to the ‘scene of the crime’ and did it again when they won by three runs at Heathcoat.
For barely seven days earlier Plymouth defeated Cornwood by four runs in the Booker Wholesale Devon Cup final on the same ground.
Plymouth made 177 all out – openers James Toms and Mike Simmers leading the way with half centuries.
Heathcoat were all out for 174 with three overs to go, paying for a middle-order collapse that left the tail-enders too much to do.
Toms (71) and Simmers (51) scored the bulk of Plymouth’s runs, putting on 82 for the first wicket.
Toms was fifth out at 147, the third and final wicket claimed by Brad Barnes (3-32).
Only Jake Luffman (14) and George Stephenson (16) reached double figures after Simmers departed to Dinesh Raheja (2-29).
Four Plymouth batters didn’t manage a run between them after that.
Jamie Drew (4-29) polished off the lower order as Plymouth lost their last three wickets all on 77.
Heathcoat were handily placed at 104 for three thanks to Dylan Penberthy (32) and Sam Smith (41), who put on 54 for the second wicket.
The Smith was spun out by Plymouth skipper Harry Ramsden, which was when the problems started.
Ben Stein – Plymouth’s three-wicket hero of the Devon Cup final win over Cornwood on the same ground last Sunday – got stuck into the middle order. He finished with four for 17.
Drew (13) and Mark Hodson (15) nearly pulled off a memorable win by putting on 26 for the ninth wicket.
With eight runs needed drew was dismissed by Hal Kerton and five runs later Hodson fell to Stein to give Plymouth a narrow win.
Both sides were safe from the fear of relegation going into the match, having flirted with it all season.
Heathcoat finished three off the bottom with Plymouth immediately above them.
Ramsden, who has been acting captain while skipper Sam Stein is out injured, said he was confident of wining although not by quite such a tight margin.
“Our openers batted well, but the middle and lower order had a dose of end-of-season syndrome,” said Ramsden.
“Although our target was 200, which we fell short of, I felt we could win it if we took some early wickets, which we didn’t get.
“The opening bowlers were steady, but it was the spinners who really did the damage.”
Plymouth, runners-up last season, were never far from the danger area this season and Ramsden admitted it was a relief to stay out of the bottom two.
“For most of the season we were there or thereabouts, only one defeat or someone else’s win away from trouble,” said Ramsden.

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