Devon Cricket Board - Exmouth will let cricket do the talking

Exmouth will let cricket do the talking

EXMOUTH aim to put a week of bickering behind them and concentrate on the cricket when they face Surrey side Ashtead on the Maer today (2pm) in the Southern Final of the NatWest ECB T20 Cup.
It’s a national competition and the reward for reaching the last four is to play in the televised finals day on a First Class county ground.
This year’s final in mid-September is at Northampton’s Wantage Road ground and will be broadcast live on SkyTV.
Exmouth are one win away from going to Northampton after brushing aside St Just then Taunton St Andrews in last Sunday’s regional final at Sidmouth.
The bats and balls had barely been put away before ECB received enquiries from the losers about the eligibility of Exmouth players Ian Bishop and Jamie Tapper.
Bishop’s first-claim club is Staplegrove in Taunton, for whom he has played most of his cricket this season.
Tapper is at university in Birmingham and during term time turns out for Barnard’s Green in the Birmingham Premier League.
Allegations were made that neither player was eligible to appear for Exmouth having been cup tied for their other clubs.
ECB allow dual registration of players in leagues, but don’t permit players to play for more than one club in one of their national competitions.
Investigations were carried out by Chris Weston from ECB, who cleared Bishop almost immediately and Tapper after some detailed enquiries.
Bishop wasn’t cup tied by Staplegrove, but there was evidence Tapper had played for Barnard’s Green against Ombersley. This proved to be a clerical error.
“After thorough investigation into both players, ECB have concluded they were both eligible to represent Exmouth CC in the NatWest Club T20 South West Area Final,” said Weston.
Gary Chappell, the Exmouth captain, just wants to concentrate on playing cricket now.
“I am glad all the fiasco of ineligibility of players can finally be put at rest so people can move on with their lives and do something more useful than attempt to get a team knocked out of a competition.
“We can stop worrying and focus on the game.”
Ashtead beat Hastings & St Leonard’s Priory in the South area semi-final by five wickets from the final ball of a game reduced to 10 overs a side due to bad weather.
Beckenham from the Kent League were beaten by 12 runs in another 10-overs-each game.
Chappell has done some homework on the Surrey side, but is more concerned with how Exmouth play than any strengths of weaknesses of the opposition.
“We've done a bit of research into our opposition and know a bit about them, which should help us on the day, however I am sure they've done the same,” said Chappell.
“They are obviously a decent team to get to this stage but if we play to our potential as we did last Sunday I am confident we'll come through.
“Last Sunday was the most complete performance all season with everyone performing with bat or ball. I am looking for more of the same and for players to put their hands up and make a match-winning performance.
“It should be a great day with it being a bank holiday as well and any support will be welcome and appreciated.
“I just hope the weather doesn't play a part in proceedings.”
Ashtead’s side includes Tom Deighton, a spin bowler who has played for Dorset this season, and Zimbabwean batter John Vaughan-Davies, who had a short First Class career with Midlands before moving to this country.
Dominic Sibley, Ashtead’s England U19 and Surrey batsman, is ineligible for the competition.
Exmouth: R Baggs S Allen B Dawson S Benton D Lye, G Chappell, A Buzza, T Anning, I Bishop, J Tapper, L Greenway. 12th man: F Marks.
T Homes, S Homes, P Harrison, T Deighton, D Miller, S Cameron, M Sandeson, P Cohen, J Pickering, C Young, J Vaughan-Davies.
Umpires: H J Hudd, R C Hampshire.

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