RIGHT: Devon's Will Murray bowling to Justin Langer.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21

JUSTIN Langer hit a quickfire half-century on his Somerset debut as the Cidermen beat Devon by 106 runs in a Twenty20 match at Exmouth.

   Australian Test ace Langer has been recruited by Somerset for the second half of their campaign, part of which is retaining the National Twenty20 Cup they won last year.

   And the Cidermen are looking in pretty good shape for their defence of the title having warmed up with wins over Cornwall and now Devon in the space of 48 hours.

   Somerset made no concession to Devon's amateur status by fielding almost all their big names, in start contrast to the mix-and-match side put out against Cornwall at Truro on Monday night.

   Langer was the star attraction who pulled in the punters – in excess of 2,000 spectators ringed the Maer Ground last night for a rare meeting between the two Westcountry rivals – and he didn't let them down.

   Langer got of the mark from the first ball he received from Devon's Rob Newman and went on to make a top score of 54 as Somerset rattled along to 240 for five in their 20 overs.

   It was breakneck-pace stuff at times from Somerset, who raced to 100 in the first eight overs as Langer and Matt Wood helped themselves to some batting practice.

   Langer reached his first Somerset 50 off just 27 balls and the nearest he came to getting out was a close call for a stumping in the 40s.

   Wood didn't quite make it to 50 – he was out one short for 49 off 25 balls – but did play one of the shots of the night.

   Devon's David Court gave his former Exmouth team-mate a slow bouncer and Wood dispatched it high over the spectators at long-leg for six.

   Court didn't have a hugely enjoyable time with the white ball as the two overs he sent down cost 35, largely in boundaries. Langer or Wood scored something off all but one of Court's deliveries.

   Langer was first out, stumped having a swing at Andy Procter, followed five balls later in the same over by Wood, who went for the big swipe over mid-wicket and found Neil Hancock waiting yards inside the ropes.

   Cameron White didn't last long – Court recovering from a stumble and a fumble to catch the Western Australian out on the mid-wicket boundary – not that Somerset were under a huge amount of pressure at the time.

   Langer and Wood had put on 111 inside nine overs for the first wicket and when White got out they were 121 for three with another nine overs to come.

   Keith Parsons and James Hildreth picked up where Wood and Langer left off, alarming the queue for the beer tent (and the barbecue next door) with some ferocious big hitting.

   Parsons thumped three fours and four sixes – three of them off Murray – on his way to 49 off 24 balls. Hildreth was just as brutal: 40 off 18 balls towards a stand of 76 compiled in five overs.

   How seriously Somerset were taking the game was underlined by Andrew Caddick opening up from one end, and Charl Willoughby running in from the other. Caddick   (3-18) knocked over Foan and Neil Hancock in successive balls as Devon struggled to 18 for two.

   That they mustered 134 was largely due to a rumbustious knock of 60 from opener David Lye, who matched Langer ball-for-ball to his half-century and boundary for boundary as well.

   Skipper Bob Dawson hit 15 and when Lye got out Sandy Allen ensured the Devon ship went down with honour by hitting four fours in a rapid 24 before Durston (2-28) and Arul Suppiah (3-16) left him no one to bat with.

   Somerset Sabres 240-5 (J L Langer 54, M J Wood 49, K A Parsons 49, J C Hildreth 40, W J Durston 25; A J Procter 2-37), Devon Lions 134 (D F Lye 60; A W P Allen 24; A R Caddick 3-18, A V Suppiah 3-16). Somerset bt Devon by 106 runs.