Devon Cricket Board - Golding in as Devon replace Lewis and Gregory

Golding in as Devon replace Lewis and Gregory

SOMERSET’S Lewis Gregory has been pulled from Devon’s squad for the Minor Counties Cup game against Hertfordshire at Instow today – and no one is happier than Devon team boss Keith Donohue.
Gregory, from Plympton and a product of the Devon youth system, is one of a clutch of dual-registered players on Somerset’s books this season.
Donohue is always glad to have players of the calibre of all-rounder Gregory, Adam Dibble and the Overton twins available - who wouldn’t be?
But the former Devon fast bowler is well aware their Somerset careers have to come first.
“I have been paying attention to what Lewis has been up to in recent weeks, such as captaining the 2nd XI, and thought it was only a question of time before he was back in the 1st XI,” said Donohue.
“Personally, I am chuffed to bits for Lewis as he is a professional cricketer and wants to make a name for himself. It is a good thing for his career that he is travelling to Yorkshire with the first team, not playing for us.
“People on the outside looking in may think it is disrupting for us, but I disagree.
“If we were asking Somerset to release two, three or even four players for our games it would be a different story. But we don’t.
“From time to time we are in a position to help them by giving a player a competitive game – and they can help us.
“We had a squad of 13 for the game and if we need to we may bring someone in if we have to.
“Liam Lewis has had to drop out due to work commitments, which leaves us potentially a bowler short.”
To close the gap in the bowling attack, Bovey Tracey’s Matt Golding was added to the squad overnight.
Devon went down by one wicket to Oxfordshire two weeks ago and need a win today to stay in contention for a top-two place in the group, which will qualify them for the last-eight knock-out stages.
Included in the original 13 are bowling all-rounder Gary Chappell - his 13-ball 48 for Exmouth against Bradninch on Saturday showed his batting skills – and ex Somerset and Notts batsman Matt Wood.
Devon didn’t do a lot wrong against Oxfordshire, but when you lose there is always room for improvement, even if the margin was small.
“Looking at the quality in our team it will always take a good side to beat us,” said Donohue.
“Instow will be a different pitch and a different sort of game to the one at Bovey against Oxfordshire.
“We had chances to win against Oxfordshire which we didn’t take. If I could change one thing it would be trying to make things happen, rather than waiting for them to happen.”
Devon: R J Woodman (Taunton Deane), J E Burke (Budleigh), D F Lye (Exmouth), M J Wood (Plumtree), M C Golding (Bovey Tracey), J J Bess (Sidmouth), N D Hancock (Bovey), M W Thompson (Torquay), T S Anning (Exmouth), G R Chappell (Exmouth), C Bradley (Bovey), M J L Kidd (Budleigh).
Hertfordshire (from): D J Blacktopp, H D Ramsden, N V Jeyaratnam, J E Southgate, B J Frazer, W V M Jones, M J Milligan, N J Lamb, C E Stewart, S P White, R E Wynne, E C Ballard, U Arif.
Umpires: J S Attridge & T F Boston.
HERTFORDSHIRE lost by two wickets in the final over of their game against Cornwall at Werrington yesterday, Shakil Ahmed making an undefeated and match-winning half century for the hosts.

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