Devon Cricket Board - Lions go down to Gloucestershire

Lions go down to Gloucestershire

BATTLING knocks from Barney Huxtable (pictured) and James Burke couldn’t save Devon Lions from an 85-run defeat by the Gloucestershire Academy in yesterday’s 50-over friendly at Cornwood.

Gloucestershire amassed 321 for six in their allocation – skipper Joe Barrett making 160 off 122 balls with 21 fours and three sixes.

It was Barrett’s second appearance of the week against Devon as he was a member of the Oxfordshire side defeated by 128 runs at Sidmouth over three days.

Along the way there were stands of 121 for the first wicket with junior partner Dan Lezar (19) and 94 with James Turpin (18).

England Under-19 all-rounder Tom Shrewsbury made 48 after Barrett went in the 37^th over.

Devon found it hard keeping the runs down – none of the bowlers managed below five an over – and Max Curtis bowled the one and only maiden of the innings at the start.

Huxtable took three for 57 in 10 and Will Squire two for 67.

Devon made a respectable start in reply with Huxtable (71), Josh Mailling (37) and James Burke (61) getting them up to 131 for one after 22 overs.

A 101-run stand between openers Huxtable and Mailling helped.

The rot set in when skipper Matt Thompson, Sam Wyatt-Haines and Jack Dart all went cheaply as 131 for two when Mailling got out became 149 for nine.

Burke was sixth out at 181 and it would have been easy for Devon to crumble then.

The bottom half of the order showed a bit of dog, helped by some frequent bowling changes by Gloucestershire skipper Barrett, and reached 236 all out in the 44^th over.

Gloucestershire Academy 321-6 (J H Barrett 160, T W Shrewsbury 48; B G Huxtable 3-57), Devon Lions 236 (J E Burke 61, B G Huxtable 71, J H J Mailling 31; L Belcher 3-45). Gloucestershire bt Devon Lions by 85 runs.

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