Devon Cricket Board - Lewdown lose Marais due to injury

BARTON, up to second after crushing Abbotskerswell, are at home to a Lewdown side who have lost the services of South African batting start Marco Marais.
Barton’s only change is that former Devon keeper Andy Hele is not available, so Steve Lewis comes back in behind the stumps after getting some runs in the seconds last week.
Marais has gone home for treatment on a ruptured thigh muscle and won’t be back. He scored more than 1,500 runs last season as Lewdown won the B Division and will be missed as the Moorlanders scrap to get out of the bottom two.
“With Marais now gone I am hoping we will protect our wickets better ,” said Lewdown captain Harry Geering.
“I think we got into a routine of seeing him play some outrageous shots and then the rest of us playedtoo many shots as well and lost wickets cheaply.
“That said it's been a pleasure to have been able to play alongside Marco for a season and a half.
“Being able to witness some of the innings he played was unbelievable.
“As well as some of the shots which we hope to see in the IPL in a year or two.
“And as a club we wish him al the best and hope he goes as far in cricket as we think he will go.”
Jack Williams comes in for Marais, but there are injury concerns over left-armer Ben Williams.
Barton are at the opposite end of the table to Lewdown, but Geering doesn’t see that as a reason to fear them.
“Barton are obviously doing well., but we took our only 22 pointer of the season off them, which gives us hope,” he said.
“We know we've got to get Shaun Needham before too much damage is done ,so I will be looking for our bowlers to be targeting the stumps.”
SIMON Gillespie replaces super-veteran Nick Rogers in the Hatherleigh side for the visit of Bradninch.
Hatherleigh are out of the bottom two after winning at Paignton last time out and skipper Mark Lake detects a growing sense of optimism in the camp.
Lake knows Bradninch are up there with Plympton and Paignton chasing promotion, but that doesn’t bother him too much.
“We don't know a lot about Bradninch, but they seem like a team that’s confident of going up this season so it will be a good test for us,” said Lake.
“I think we now have a team confident of given anyone a game in this division and more often than not winning.
“But I won't be taking things for granted just because we've won a few. We still have to do the basics right and put teams under pressure with bat and ball and the wins will follow.”
Bradninch need a win after a couple of defeats cost them the leadership.
The side is stronger than the one beaten at Plympton, which is encouraging for skipper Tim Piper.
“We're looking to bounce back quickly and string some wins together over the next few weeks,” said Piper.
“Hatherleigh are on a bit of a good run at the moment though so need to be respected. Looks like they've got their act together.
“Ross Acton is back this week and Mark Ashplant comes back in. Paul Nott and James Street are unavailable.
“I'm obviously very pleased to have Ross back as he is a serious weapon for us with bat and ball.
“The batsmen are performing for us, but more is needed and wanted from the bowling unit still at the moment.”
CHUDLEIH beat Brixham last time out and are looking to make it two on the trot against Budleigh Salterton.
“We know Budleigh are a really good side and expect a tough game,” said skipper Ed Foreman.
“We are looking forward to another test against quality, Premier -standard players.
We are determined not to get carried away after last week and the boys know it will only get harder from here on.”
Chudleigh have Derrick Perry back for the unavailable Dan Britcliffe, who is working.
PLYMPTON skipper James Carr will be treating Abbotskeswell with plenty of respect despite their nine-wicket drubbing by Barton last time out.
For prior to that Abbots had done three out of four to shoot out of the A Division basment.
Abbots will be a tough one as they blow hot and cold and we have had tough matches in the last couple of seasons with them,” said Carr,.
“We certainly wont be taking them lightly, as you can’t with anyone in this divison.
Missing are Chris Bunney (Test match) , Matt Gregory (family commitments and Ryan Skinner (stag do). In are Dan Hussey, Craig Miles and Dom Mulberry
“Dan Hussey will open the batting,” said Carr. He is a 16 year old who has had a few good knocks in the 2nd XI and deserves an opportunity.
“Craig and Dom have played firsts this seasnop and are more than capable replacements.
It is testing our strength in depth this Saturday as have seven 1st XI squad members away, but I'm more than confident with the team as the mainstays are playing.”
Abbots only show one change this week as Tom Anndrew comes in for Charlie Hill.
“Saturday’s game with Plympton is going to be tough but if we show the fight and character we've shown throughout the season then we can come out on top,” said captain Richard Acton.
“Our batting needs to improve but I know two or three of the guys will step up this week with runs.
“We won’t make it easy for Plympton..”
BRIXHAM and Paignton both have stand-in captains for their meeting at Boundary Park.
Home captain Andy Pugh is out of action so Gary Spencer takes the reins.
Brixham are also without Mark Orchard and Andrew Lewin due to injury.
Paignton will be skippered by Chris Kelmere in the absence of the suspended Connor Bryan.
Also suspended are George Yates and George Benton.
Paignton have had a mid-season boost with the arrival from South Africa of two Western Province youngsters: Milo Ekstrom and Gavin Kaplin.
Ekstrom had runs and wickets in the 1st XI last Saturday and, not surprisingly, stays in the team.
Kaplin is booked to play in the 2nd XI.