Devon Cricket Board - Exmouth choke on chase says Baggs with National T20 final in sight

Exmouth choke on chase says Baggs with National T20 final in sight

EXMOUTH’S hopes of reaching the televised final of the NatWest ECB T20 came undone when they lost by 13-runs to Ashtead yesterday.
Ashstead, who play in Division One of the Surrey Championship, made 128 for eight in their 20 overs – Paul Harrison top scoring on 51.
Exmouth looked on course while Seb Benton was at the crease and reached 80 for three with eight overs to go.
When Benton was stumped for 40 the game started to drift away from Exmouth.
They reached the final over needing 14 to win and last man Lawrence Greenway was dismissed first ball (of the over) having a swing.
So it is Ashtead who will appear in front of the Sky TV cameras in the final at Northamptonshire’s ground in two weeks time.
“We choked, simple as that,” said Exmouth club captain Richard Baggs.
“Everyone was distraught afterwards as we felt we were the better team and should have won.
“We must have played 75 per cent of the cricket, but Ashtead kept going and bowled straight. Good luck to them in the final.”
Ashtead went off at a fair pace with openers Mike Sanderson (19) and Dan Miller (26) putting in 38 on seven overs.
Harrison’s 51 off 29 balls included four sixes, but once Miller and John Vaughan-Davies (13) went to Gary Chappell (2-25) the runs only came from one end.
Trevor Anning’s two for 18 from his four overs helped keep the lid on Ashtead, who slowed right down at the end, only adding 12 in the last two overs with plenty of wickets in hand.
Harrison was one of the men to go, caught on the boundary by Benton having a swing at Anning (pictured).
Exmouth got the worst possible start when opener Sandy Allen departed lbw second ball, but quickly recovered with Baggs (22), Bob Dawson (13) and Benton leading the way.
When Baggs was third out on 61 the target was 68 to win with nearly 10 overs to get them.
Benton’s demise at 80 was the beginning of the end for Exmouth. No one made a double-figure score until Jamie Tapper (10) went in at number 10 and by then it was too late.
Ashtead 128-8 (P Harrison 51. D Miller 26; T Anning 2-18, G Chappell 2-25), Exmouth 115 S Benton 40, R Baggs 22; T Homes 2-15, T Deighton 2-13, J Vaughan-Davies 3-21). Ashtead bt Exmouth by 13 runs.

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