Devon Cricket Board - Premier previews - Sidmouth have plenty of motivation

SIDMOUTH captain Will Murray insists there is plenty to motivate his Premier Division table toppers, even though the league title is as good as in the bag.
Murray’s men aren’t mathematically certain of the title yet, but they are 64 points clear of second-placed Plymouth with 110 to play for.
If Sidmouth beat Exeter on the County Ground this Saturday, then they can end all doubts by beating Plymouth at home seven days later.
You won’t find Plymouth captain Matt Hooper saying his side can catch Sidmouth now – and that’s been the chorus from the clubs trailing the leaders for a while.
Murray isn’t being conceited when he says the title is as good as won, just stating what everyone else is saying.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything left to play for – far from it.
“It’s about challenges and individual milestones now,” said Murray.
“As a team we want to win the league unbeaten and that remains a big motivator.
“Players have targets too – runs or wickets – and there are plenty of games left to achieve them.
“For example: Liam Lewis has got three Premier tons this season. No one has made four in the current format we play; can he be the first?”
Sidmouth were given a hiding last time out, but Exeter will be a tougher proposition.
“They probably haven’t had the season they hoped for or the one most people expected them to have, but they were one of the first teams to beat Exmouth which is seldom easy,” said Murray.
Sidmouth will have Lewis back at the top of the order, which means Harvey Sargent drops down to the 2nd XI after making his debut in the Sandford win.
“Harvey opened up, got a good 25 and showed he can handle himself at Premier level,” said Murray.
“He is only 16 now and came in for the experience. I am sure we will see plenty of him in the future.”
Exeter have ommited Devon all-rounder Ben Green to give him some rest after a hectic spell of matches.
“Billy Searle has proved his fitness with the 2nd XI so he comes in to bat at six and take the new ball,” said Exeter skipper Miles Lenygon.
Exeter’s motivation is simple: put a spanner in Sidmouth’s works.
“It would be lovely to stop Sidmouth getting their unbeaten season,” said Lenygon.
He added: “We've lacked consistency this season and very rarely put in a good bowling and batting performance in the same game.
“To stand any chance on we are going to have to perform in both departments.”
Torquay need a win at Exmouth to stop Cornwood getting any closer to them at the bottom of the table.
Theg gap only 12 points which is too close for comfort
“It’s a big game,” said Torquay captain Justin Yau.
“We need every point we can get and we have a huge few weeks coming up.
“Responsibility is critical of senior players.
“Exmouth are a good side – they proved that by winning the T20 last weekend.
“For some reason it hasn't clicked for them in the league but they have class players throughout their team.”
Exmouth may have won the Devon T20 last Sunday, but skipper Richard Baggs is still smarting from the previous day’s 32-run defeat by Cornwood.
“We were pathetic for first 25 overs last week and that cannot happen again,” said Baggs, who has Ian Bishop in the side as an extra bowler.
“We want to finish second and for that to happen we need massive improvements.”
Plymouth, the side currently in second place, have not intention of surrendering it, which could be bad news for visiting Cornwood.
“The lads are on a high from last week’s victory over Heathcoat and we are looking to carry on the momentum Ben Stein gave us into the derby match with Cornwood,” said captain Matt Hooper.
Stein took the last three wickets with a hat-trick to give Plymouth an unlikely win over Heathcoat.
“Cornwood will be desperate for points so they will be bang up for it and we will have to be as well,” added Hooper.
“We are desperate to keep our second place in the league.
“We have a few of our batsman queuing up to score some runs so hopefully they will do that this week.
“We haven't batted well the last few weeks so that needs to improve. Our bowling and fielding has been good so we need to keep this up.”
Bovey Tracey to Heathcoat looking to make it four in a row as they chase Plymouth for second place.
“We know it will be a tough game as they have beaten Exmouth twice and also have a very good overseas player on top form,” said skipper Andy Fairbairn.
“We also have players in good form though and will be trying very hard to win our fourth game in a row.”
Heathcoat’s in-form overseas player is South African Qassim Adams, who has scored three successive centuries.
If he gets a fourth against Bovey Tracey he will be the first batter to make that many Premier tons in a season since the division was reduced from 22 to 18 clubs in 1999.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division tomorrow, North Devon take on Sandford at Instow.

North Devon welcome back skipper Matt Westaway from a two week fishing holiday in Majorca and hope to have Jamie Overton freed by Somerset to play as well.

With all that bowling power around someone had to make way and the unlucky one is Sam Witheridge.

“He has done absolutely nothing wrong, but will get more of a bowl in the 2nd XI this week,” said Westaway.

Sandford beat North Devon in the first meeting between the clubs – but have only won once since then.

“Although they are down at the bottom they won’t have forgotten that win – I know we haven’t – and any team fighting for its life will be a handful,” said Westaway.