Devon Cricket Board - Premier Division - Bovey batters have to perform

Premier Division - Bovey batters have to perform

NORTH Devon captain Matt Dart has one objective in mind for the game against Bradninch at Instow – to make the opposition suffer.
The defending champions have been in all sorts of trouble recently having been bowled out for 69 by bottom two Heathcoat then 34 all out at Plymouth last Saturday.
North Devon won’t be retaining the title they won last season – one of Bovey Tracey, Sidmouth or Exmouth will be crowned champions next month – but that’s no excuse as far as Dart is concerned.
“Everyone knows where they went wrong against Plymouth and Heathcoat and I'm sure we will see different result this week,” said Dart.
“Hopefully, Bradninch will feel the backlash.”
Leaders Bovey Tracey were 102-run losers to Sidmouth in their last outing and are looking for an all-round improvement against relegation worriers Torquay.
Skipper Peter Bradley knows where the problem is: putting it right for the last four games will be key to winning the title for the first time since 2002.
“We have only bowled badly once or twice all season, but are batting has been a bit light,” said Bradley.
“Neil Hancock and myself are around the 400-run mark, but no one else has got past 200.
“I appreciate it has been a difficult season for batting and other sides are in the same boat.
“But we do need to score a few more runs, which is why James Fulner is in against Torquay.
“His last four knocks are two 70s, a 60-odd and a 50 in the 2^nd XI, so he deserves a chance.”
Torquay’s priority is widening the 13-point gap between them and Sandford in the second drop spot.
“We believe they are beatable and we just need to back our ability and come good,” said Torquay skipper Justin Yau.
“Two wins will keep us afloat for sure- its going to be a big scrap now and we need to pick up as many points as we can”
Ben Passenger, Matt Hickey and Scott Baldry come back in. Matt Hunt (wedding), Callum Wilson (work) and Mawgan Penrice (2^nd XI) are out.
Second-placed Exmouth are unchanged from the team that won at Sandford for their date with fast-improving Heathcoat, who have won three on the trot.
“Last week’s result was just what we needed, now we have to back it up,” said skipper Richard Baggs.
Heathcoat scrapped a four-run win at Torquay to keep them in with a chance of dodging the drop. Skipper Chris Small says there is no pressure on his side, which is helping their cause,,
“Hopefully we will keep our roll going and record another win,” said Small.
“Exmouth away will not be easy, especially with how well they bat.”
“However, we are playing some decent cricket and still have nothing to lose.”
Sidmouth meet Budleigh in the East Devon derby on the University of Exeter sport ground at Topsham at the start of a tough title run in.
Bovey are 10 points clear of Sidmouth, whose run in looks the toughest of the three title contenders.
“Only Bradninch of the teams we have to play aren’t either trying to win it (Exmouth) or battling to stay up themselves (Budleigh and Heathcoat),” said Sidmouth skipper Will Murray.
“There are lots of possibilities with Exmouth and Bovey playing each other next week as well. We have to aim to win all our games before getting to Exmouth on the last day so the pressure is kept on them and Bovey.”
Budleigh clawed their way out of the drop zone by winning at Bradninch last Saturday. Now they have to stay safe.
“It is a big game for both sides as they need to win as much as we do,” said Budleigh skipper Joel Murphy.

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