SUNDAY, APRIL 5
Click here for synopsis from Conrad Sutcliffe
TREVOR Anning led a rearguard action in vain as Devon crashed to a 99-run defeat against Cardiff UCCE in a pre-season friendly at Exeter yesterday.
Devon were set 201 to win in 50 overs – and promptly slumped to 37 for seven in reply.
Anning came in at 29 for four following the demise of Neil Hancock – one of five scalps for Shaun Moore – and was last man out for 39 in a total of 101.
It was not a great day for the rest of Devon's batsmen, four of whom failed to make a run between.
Among the ducks was skipper Bob Dawson who was run-out without facing a ball after Hancock called him for a single that was never there. Hancock (15) was the only batsman apart from Anning to reach double figures.
Left-hander Matt Jones top scored for Cardiff UCCE with a patient 53 in their total of 200 for nine.
After Jack Porter made an early breakthrough to remove opener Ryan Bishop for six, Jones and Seb Benton put on 92 in 25 overs for the second wicket.
Benton, who plays his league cricket for Paignton, was first to go when he prodded a return catch low down to left-arm spinner Chris Metters for 36.
Jones carried on until the fall of the fourth wicket at 150 when he nicked Rob Newman to keeper Justin Yau.
Newman (4-29) contained the middle order pretty effectively and when the students tried to force the pace they got out.
They went from 150 for thee to 176 with Newman doing most of the damage. A smart run-out by Yau, who threw down the stumps to remove Mike Barber, kept the pressure on.
Torquay captain Yau did his future prospects no harm at all with a busy display behind the stumps that earned him a catch, as well as the run-out, and no byes conceded. He also batted senisbily at the end with Anning as Devon tried to use up the overs.
Porter did what he does for Barton which is bowl tidily and give little away. Having bowled six overs in his first spell for just 11 runs, it was surprising he wasn't brought back, especially as none of the other seamers bowled that cheaply.
Skipper Dawson wasn't prepared to dwell too long on the outcome, commenting: “I never read much into games like this as the results really don't matter.
“Overall we bowled and fielded pretty well, but didn't make the best use of our time to bat.
“We've looked at some players who may come into the reckoning during the season and given game time to others who need it before we start playing for real. If we had similar result to this against Cornwall in the cup at the end of the month, then I might be worried.”
Cardiff UCCE 200-9 (S R Benton 36, M R W Jones 53; R J Newman 4-29), Devon 101 (T S Anning 39; S Moore 5-11). Cardiff UCCE bt Devon by 99 runs.
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