Devon Cricket Board - Devon beat Cardiff MCCU by four wickets

Devon beat Cardiff MCCU by four wickets

DAVE Lye hit a quick-fire 65 as Devon won by four wickets against Cardiff MCCU at Blundell’s.
Pursuing Cardiff’s 257 for three in 50 overs, Devon got there with five overs to spare.

Lye had hit seven fours and a six off Trevor McGeer to bring up his 50 in just 45 balls. He went out to join opener Rob Holman after Rob Woodman was in and out for 13.

A stand of 120 with Holman ended when Holman was caught behind for 39.

Lye went for runs later lbw to Jack Leach. His innings lasted 55 balls and included ten boundaries.

James Burke was the next man out, bowled by Leach for 22 at 220 for four. Josh Bess (41) and Matt Thompson (3) fell in successive balls to Dan Bendon as 220 for three became 226 for six in a hurry. Trevor Anning and Pete Randerson saw Devon home without further mishap.

Earlier, Zac Elkin hit an unbeaten century as Cardiff MCCU upped the tempo after a slow start.With Elkin carrying his bat for 103, the students reached 257 for three in their 50 overs.

Going into the 41^st over Cardiff MCCU were 152 for two and in need of a pick-me-up.

Losing Bendon lbw to Anning did them a favour as Sam Mount came out to replace him and promptly tucked into the bowling.

In the next 58 balls Cardiff added 105 runs with Mount slashing an uneaten 57 off 32 balls with three sixes and five fours.

Elkin, who had been sedentary reaching his 50 off 101 balls, dashed to his ton in just 37 deliiveries.

Bess took a bit of punishment at the end with Mount clobbering him for two successive sixes. Anning and Gary Chappell didn’t escape the lash either.

It had all been so much different earlier when Devon’s bowlers were on top,

After 22 overs Cardiff were 81 without loss with openers Sam Davis and Elkin unbeaten on 46 and 32 respectively.

Devon had done a reasonable job keeping the runs down with Anning, Bradley and Chapple all economical.

Bess was bowling well on his comeback after injury before Davis launched him for six!

A change of bowling had the desired result when Ryan Bougourd, operating from the pavilion end instead of Chappell, deceived Davis with his slower ball in his first over.

Davis was out for 47 in a running total of 84 for one in the 24th over. The new man in was skipper Andrew Balbirnie, the Ireland U19 international.

Ballbirnie quickly got on top of the bowling on his way to 34 off 38 balls.

Along the way there was a stand of 51 with Elkin, who finally reached his half-century off 101 balls.

Bougourd bowled Balbirnie in the 36th over to leave the visitors 135 for two. Bougourd’s figures were two for 32. He finished with two for 39 from eight overs.

Annning got Brendon out lbw two balls into his second spell with a delivery he played back to.

Cardiff MCCU 257-3 (S Davis 47, Z Elkin 103no, A J Balbirnie 34, S A Mount 57; R Bougourd 2-39). Devon 261-6 (D F Lye 65, J J Bess 41, R J Holman 36; M J Leach 2-29, D S Bendon 2-38). Devon bt Cardiff MCCU by 4 wkts.

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