MONDAY, MAY 25
DEVON have drafted in an virtual unknown from New Zealand to strengthen their side for tomorrow's Twenty20 Challenge match against Warwickshire Bears at Exmouth (5pm).
The name James Neesham doesn't mean much outside Auckland, where he plays for Suburbs New Lynn and has recently broken into the New Zealand U19 side.
Neesham is over in the UK this summer improving his game playing in the Birmingham Premier League for West Bromwich Dartmouth, for whom he scored a maiden century on Saturday in the defeat by Smethwick.
With Devon a bit thin on batting firepower for the game, a friend of a friend recommended they borrow Neesham, who will be travelling down from Birmingham tomorrow morning for the match.
Devon team manager George Gribble said so many of Devon's regular squad men were missing the decision had been made to import Neesham as a one off.
“We want to be as competitive as we can, but that is difficult when so many players are unavailable for selection,” said Gribble.
“Warwickshire are bringing down the 13-man squad they are taking to Somerset the following day for a Twenty20 Cup game, so it won't be a picnic. They are taking it seriously and we owe it to the supporters coming to the game to do the same.”
Meanwhile, beat Axminster by 148 runs yesterday in a friendly to mark the opening of the club side's second ground at Cloakham Lawn.
Devon put out a largely experimental side, skippered by Ian Bishop in the absence of county captain Bob Dawson, which amassed 275 for eight in 50 overs.
Devon got off to a 72-run start thanks to Torquay captain Justin Yau (36) and North Devon's Dan Bowser (14), then cut loose after seeing off the host club's frontline bowlers.
Exeter teenager Alex Brown slammed 46 as he and Exmouth's Trevor Anning put up 92 for the fifth wicket.
Bishop and Sidmouth's Will Murray entered into the spirit of the occasion by thrashing 21 each at the end.
Axminster managed 127 for nine in reply, having managed to get over a slump that saw them 59 for six and in danger of failing to bat out their overs.
Paul Miller (49no) was the anchorman, who staved off total collapse with James Mitcham (25) for company.
Lye (3-24) and Bovey Tracey's Chris Bradley (2-9) returned the best bowling figures.
Devon 275-8 (D Lye 51, T Anning 51, A Brown 46; R Prior 3-56, G Larcombe 3-56), Axminster 127-9 (P Miller 49no; D Lye 3-24). Devon bt Axminster by 148 runs.
.