Devon Cricket Board - Hants showing an interest in rising batting star Pyle

Hants showing an interest in rising batting star Pyle

Dan Pyle with his player of the year and batsman of the year awards, presented to him by Ryan Stevenson (left)

EXMOUTH batsman Dan Pyle is attracting attention from the First Class counties – and with good reason after his performances for Devon Under-17s this season.
Pyle was the leading batsman in his age group last season, smacking 773 runs at an average of 77.3 with a record-breaking 241 against Hampshire at Totton CC.
It was the best score made by any Devon youth player in any game.
Sidmouth’s Matt Cooke was the old record holder with the 201 set in 2005 against Cornwall at Exmouth.
Somerset have taken notice and, perhaps not surprisingly, so have Hampshire!
“I had an email from Hampshire enquiring if Dan would be available for four-day game near the end of the season,” said Dan’s dad Richard.
“Unfortunately it was sent to my work email after I had left for the weekend and I didn’t see it until Monday – which was the day they wanted Dan up there.
“Hopefully, Dan will get another chance next year.”
Pyle was named batsman of the year and player of the season for Devon U17s when the county awards were handed out at Sandy Park.
The award he missed out on was bowler of the year, which went to Plymouth seamer Dan Goodey.
Sidmouth cricketers did well at the evening, winning four age-group awards.
Max Hancock with 17 wickets took the U13 bowling award and claimed player of the year for the team in a three-way fight with Luke Medlock and Jack Moore.
Hancock won the same two awards in 2014.
Byron Knowles, who missed out in the U14s’ batting awards, had more than adequate compensation a players’ player.
Harvey Sargent completed the quartet by being named player of the year in the U16 county side.
Sargent’s 438 runs were not enough to win the batting prize though, which went to Joe Hagan-Burt. Sargent's stats for the season included an age-group record score of 189 not out against Coventry Cricket Board.
Sargent passed Richard Baggs’ previous highest individual U16 score of 132 against Dorset - a record that had stood for 24 years.
The awards evening was extended this year to include the women’s county team and the full Devon men’s side.
Among the other youth winners were Ottery St Mary youngster Lawrence Walker, who took player of the season in the U10s, and Clyst St George batter Joe Farmer at Under-11.
Sophie Florides of Topsham was the Under-15 girls bowler of the year.
Sidmouth had two more winners in the adult game – Devon CCC’s player of the year Zak Bess and Women’s player of the year Jodie Dibble. Bess plays for Exeter now. but lives in Sidmouth.
England international Dibble scored 219 runs at an average of 31.20 and took nine wickets at 21.11 each. She is pictured (below) with her awards and VIP guest Ryan Stevenson.

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