Devon Cricket Board - Premier round-up

PREMIER DIVISION

TORQUAY captain Justin Yau is determined to keep feet firmly on the ground at the club after a flying start to the season.

Having overwhelmed Plymouth first time out, Torquay had to work a bit harder for their 14-run win over Exmouth last Saturday,

Going into this Saturday’s trip to early leaders Bradninch, Torquay are unbeaten.

There is a long way to go though, as Yau is quick to point out.

We are two from two, but the last time we were in this position in 2009 we were relegated,” said Yau.

“It is important to enjoy the start, but just as important to guard against complacency.

“We have some huge games coming up, such as Bradninch who are a similar side to us and will scrap for every point.”

Brandon Barnes (46), Tim Western (34) and Joe Thompson (24) were the main run getters as Torquay compiled 172 all out in 48 of their 50 overs.

The wickets were shared around by the Exmouth bowlers, although Trevor Anning and David Lye stood out with three each.

Exmouth lost both openers for ducks – Max Curtis first ball to Ian Baker, Barney Huxtable after 14 to Ben Passneger (2-15) – but appeared to be recovering through Lye (32), Andy Buzza (22) and Lawrence Greenway (22).

A running total of 102 for five put Exmouth in a position where they could win the game, but wickets tumbled and 28 to win from last pair Jamie Tapper and Toby Ingham proved too much. Nick Watkin (2-31) removed Ingham to wrap it up.

Said Yau: “Despite winning there are areas which can still be improved on.

“At 97 for one we should have pushed onto close to 200. Lessons will be learned, but crucially there were some contributions from lower down the order.

“We bowled fantastically as a unit again. Ian Baker (2-40) was the best bowler on show.

“Aqeel (3-29) grabbed vital wickets and played a huge part in turning the game around.”

Exmouth captain Richard Baggs can see what’s going wrong. Putting it right is the challenge.

“We did well second half to keep Torquay to 172 after they were 97 for one,” said Baggs.

“Apart from Trevor we didn’t bowl very well again, and once again we did not bat our overs.

“Batting, a big difference was their running between the wickets compared to ours.”

BUDLEIGH Salterton could have quick bowler Charlie Morris back in action for Saturday’s game against Bovey Tracey at Ottermouth.

Morris was injured last month playing for Oxford MCCU and was told he could be out for six weeks.

However, the promising paceman who has been attracting attention from Worcestershire this season has told Budleigh skipper Joel Murphy he will probably be fit to play.

As Bovey are going well at the top of the table, that was music to Murphy’s ears.

Having been washed out on the first day of the season when their match against Heathcoat fell foul of the weather, Budleigh made up for lost time by beating defending champions North Devon by 23 runs.

There were runs through the order from James Burke (44), Eliot Rice (45) and Sri Lankan new boy Gaminda Amarasinghe (57) in a Budleigh total of 210 for eight.

Glenn Querl (3-23) took what bowling honours were to be had.

North Devon were 105 for four in the chase with – Rob Ayre (48) and Querl (38) among the runs when Murphy brought Lloyd Murrin into the attack.

Murrin’s three-wicket burst changed the game.

“Bob Dawson took a brilliant reaction catch at backward point to get rid of Matt Westaway and that was a turning point,” said Murphy.

“Lloyd got stuck into the middle order – he claimed Querl as well – which exposed the tail enders to Gaminda.

Gaminda cleaned them up and I had the last one, not that I can claim much credit. It was Lloyd’s spell that made it possible to win the match.

It was a good day for the youngsters as Rice impressed Murphy with his innings.

“He is showing a growing maturity and building an innings, which is good to see,” said Murphy.

BRADNINCH head for Torquay this Saturday with a share of top spot in the Premier Division after routing Heathcoat by 77 runs in the derby date at Knightshayes.

Ross Acton underlined his form with the bat by hitting a top score of 51 in the Bradninch total of 204 for four.

Only skipper Gary Chappell missed out as Acton, Tim Piper (33), James Street (43) and Matt Golding (42no) all tucked in.

Street was out to the last ball of the innings.

Heathcoat slumped from 83 for three to 93 for seven – spinners Chappell (2-6) and Will Squire (3-17) doing the damage – and there was no way back after that.

Ned Menheneott, who had been heathcoat’s most accurate bowler, made 21 not out to delay the inevitable.

Dan Milligan came back at the end to knock over last man Matt Hague to finish with three for 20.

Chappell said 204 was a good score on an early season wicket and reflected the graft put in by the batters.

Bradninch don’t have an overseas player this year, which has put a new pressure on his young side.

“Without one it us up to our own players to take more responsibility and the early signs are good,” said Chappell.

“There are still a few things for us to work on and a few more gears to our game, but we are two from two so I can’t complain,”

Chappell said Acton was the stand-out player this season having added batting to his repertoire with a second-successive half-century.

Ross batted brilliantly again and I don’t know how he isn’t a Devon regular, or what more he has to do,” said Chappell.

“He is one of the best English bowling all-rounders in the league – I would say only Trevor Anning is better.

“Ross has worked hard on his fitness and his game and is now a genuine batter as well as an effective left-arm swing bowler.”

Heathcoat captain Chris Small was tipped Bradninch to do well this season, saying: “They look like a complete outfit who are going to be a force for the title.”

Small knows Heathcoat will face challenges at the other end of the table due to the make-up of their side, but saw some good stuff amid the wreckage of defeat.

“Some positives out of the day were that a few of our batters look in good nick, getting starts, but they need to push on in future,” said Small.

“Our bowling at certain stages was good.

“All the boys are looking forward to Sandford this Saturday, who, like us, have not posted a win.”

SANDFORD lost their way against Sidmouth and ended up losing a game that was there to be won.

Sidmouth, who lost opener Anthony Giffiths in the warm up when he was hit on the head by a practice ball, made a respectable 217 for nine with Zac Bess top scoring on 48.

Matt Theedom claimed three wickets for 33 runs – including Bess – and there were two each for Luke Wright, Simon Ashplant and Richard Foan.

Sandford were 90 for one thanks to Theedom (40), Neil Bettis (22) and Russ Discombe (12), and even at 134 for three seemed in the driving seat.

Middle order wickets tumbled as Sandford slipped again from 185 for five to 187 for eight – among them the impressive George Greed (36) potential match winner Foan.

The former Devon batsman clubbed Matt Cooke for 24 in one over on his way to a brisk 33, then was bowled by Sam Anderson (2-34) having one swing too many.

Cooke (2-33) flushed out Chris Bake and Jamie Palmer to win the match with five balls to go.

Sidmouth skipper Will Murray accepted it was a close-run affair and said there is room for improvement against Plymouth on the Fortfield this Saturday.

“It didn’t help losing Griff, but even so we lost early wickets and for the second week running our middle order bailed us out,” said Murray.

“Zac Bess batted well, so did Nick Gingell (22) and Matt Cooke (29) and as I thought 170-180 would be defendable I felt we had a great score on the board.

“We bowled with poor discipline at the start – they were 70 for one after ten overs – and they only needed four an over to win it.

“Luckily for us Adrian Small (17) played a silly shot and got out before he could get going. Otherwise it could have been different.

“We did get it back later in the innings, but a game I felt we were going to win easily could have gone either way until the penultimate over.”

Griffiths was x-rayed on Saturday night and with nothing broken hopes to play against Bovey.

BOVEY Tracey made it two wins from two when they beat Plymouth by six wickets.

Having been bowled out for 118 at Torquay seven day earlier, the theory was things could only get better Plymouth.

That theory went straight out of the window as Plymouth stuttered to 109 all out with more than four overs to go.

Chris Barr’ 21 was as good as it got for Plymouth with the bat as the fell away from 65 for three under pressure from Devon captain Chris Bradley and old boy Charlie Hill.

Hill, showed his old mates no favours by taking three for 16 from 10 overs. Bradley had three for 27.

Bovey didn’t have it all their own way on the chase as they were a wobbly 46 for four after a double strike from Barr (2-27) slowed them up.

Dillon Mullins went on the offensive – hitting Barr for two sixes – and made a quickfire 44 not out as he and Andy Fairbairn (14no) put on 69 unbroken to win the match with 8.3 overs to spare.