Devon Cricket Board - Torquay feeling the pressure after Sidmouth defeat

Torquay feeling the pressure after Sidmouth defeat

TORQUAY are under pressure to pick up a win at Exeter this Saturday after a 67-run defeat by Sidmouth left them one off the bottom of the Premier Division.

Sidmouth opener Josh Bess and Liam Lewis both scored hundreds as the visitors clattered along to 268 for three declared in 45 overs.

Bess made 111 in an opening standoff 222, while Lewis got to exactly 100, then to out.

Coincidentally, Bess and Lewis both scored hundreds in the previous match against Cornwood – and shared an identical stand of 222.

Torquay didn’t roll over easily for Sidmouth, but once Mitchell Pugh was fifth out for 63 at 125 there was little chance of getting the runs. Faisal Iqbal had already been and gone by then for 35

Joe Thompson made 38 and Josh Hunt 28 not out as Torquay clawed to 201 all out and four bonus batting points.

County captain Bess took three for 45 and there were two wickets each for Will Murray, Charlie Miles and Will Sobczak.

“Bess and Lewis were brilliant and made it hard for us,” said Torquay skipper Justin Yau.

“We didn’t bowl too badly, but they batted very well.

“Our batting was ok but we need a big score from someone, which didn’t materialise.”

Defeat leaves Torquay in joint bottom place with Sandford and already mired in a similar relegation fight to last season.

With champions Exmouth to play on the last Saturday in May, it doesn’t get any easier for Torquauy, who go straight from that game into a basement clash with Sandford.

Yau will hope to have Devon batsman Matthew Thompson home this weekend. He is working in Somerset, which has affected his availability.

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