Devon Cricket Board - Exmouth clinch first part of Devon double

Exmouth clinch first part of Devon double

The triumphant Exmouth squad surround skipper Richard Baggs

EXMOUTH are on course for the county double after walloping holders Sidmouth by 95 runs to hoist the Devon KO Cup.

Opener Sandy Allen cracked 110, which came off 108 balls and included 14 fours and a six, as Exmouth amassed 275 for four in their 40 overs.

“One of us had to get a hundred and Sandy again showed what a good player he is by doing it,” said Exmouth skipper Richard Baggs.

“I was having to fend Josh Bess away in front of my nose. Sandy was leaning back and smacking him through backward point for four.”

David Lye then ripped the heart out of Sidmouth’s middle order as they slumped from 127 for four to 143 for eight in 16 balls.

Sidmouth were all out for 180 with more than eight overs to go, surrendering the cup they won last season and the one before that to their near neighbours.

If everything goes according to plan for Exmouth this Saturday they will add the Premier Division title as well by beating Cornwood in their last game of the season.

“We are only halfway there – now we move on to Cornwood on Saturday and finish the job,” said Baggs.

Baggs had been worried about having enough bowling to get through the game, but those fears proved largely unfounded.

Having 275 on the board took the pressure off to start with – then Devon paceman Trevor Anning did eased it further by nipping out Matt Cooke and Anthony Griffiths with successive balls in the second over.

Gary Chappell made a telling intervention by dispatching Josh Bess (42) and Peter Randerson with the next ball as Sidmouth ht 84 for four in the 16th over.

If Sidmouth were wobbling then they almost veered into the ditch as Lye took three in a row – Luke Bess, top-scorer Liam Lewis for 80, and Nick Gingell to send them plummeting to 143 for seven.

The game was up by then and it was left to Lye, Chappell (3-13) and Lawrence Greenway with a wicket each to knock over the stragglers.

Allen (pictured collecting his MoM award from Devon team boss Keith Donohue) was the anchorman the rest batted around as Exmouth gave the Sidmouth bowlers are tough time from the start.

Baggs (33) and Allen put on 81 in 16 overs before Sidmouth struck twice to remove the Exmouth captain then Lye.

The real damage was done by Allen and Seb Benton in a third-wicket stand of 161, which took the total up to 245.

Scott Barlow finally wormed one through Benton’s defences and sent him back for 80 off 65 balls, which included three sixes and four fours.

Allen was last man out when he stepped out to have a go at spinner Cooke and was stumped by Randerson.

“Seb came in and upped the tempo brilliantly. In the last 10 overs we scored to many runs for Sidmouth’s liking.”

Baggs said it was a satisfying win over a side that has plenty to say for themselves in the field.

“Plymouth prepared a cracking deck and although 275 was a good score with the side Sidmouth have you don’t know if it is enough,” said Baggs.

“What I do know is six for two is not a good position to be in when you are chasing 275, although as long as Liam Lewis was there they could not be written off.

“Once we got Liam out – he did bat well and we were glad to see the back of him – I was surprised how easily they crumbled.

“Sidmouth had plenty to say when we were batting about us. What I would say to them is we got all three elements of our game right on the same day, which we haven’t done too often this year, and had a very enjoyable win.”

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773