WEDNESDAY, JULY 11
KINGSKERSWELL are looking forward to a big night out at Chudleigh in the final of the Newton Abbot Twenty20 after getting the result they wanted in the final Group Two game.
Kerswell completed their fixtures when they lost to South Devon last week, but remained top of the pool having beaten Bovey Tracey twice.
South Devon would have pipped Kerswell for a place in the final by beating Bovey in the last group game, but lost by three wickets with three balls remaining to send Kerswell through.
As Kerswell play six divisions below Chudleigh in the Devon League, the final is a real David-against-Goliath affair.
But, as Bovey have found out twice, 20-over cricket can be a great leveller and Kerswell have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
“We knew we had a tidy team this season and played good cricket when it mattered,” said Kerswell's 1 st XI captain Mark Kenyon.
“We are in the final because we deserve to be and will be going to Chudleigh looking to win.”
South Devon were left to regret a middle-order batting collapse that cost them momentum just when they were building up a good head of steam.
Rizwan Saeed (44) and Danny Johnson (25) had put on 34 together then Phil Blackmore (10) helped get the score up to 112 for four by adding another 34 with Rizwan.
Losing three wickets for two runs slowed South Devon considerably and they were bowled out in the last over for 138 when they should have topped the 150 mark.
Bovey's anchorman on the chase was opener Matt Makepeace, who hit 41. Best of the back-up came from Ben Ayres with 23.
Rizwan (1-21), Blackmore (2-26) and the impressive Chris Metters (3-25) bowled tightly to keep South Devon in the game and with two overs left it was wide open.
Bovey needed 20 to win with three wickets in hand; they took 13 of the penultimate over and two lusty blows from Ryan Bougard (12no) finished it with three balls to spare.
Chudleigh were odds-on favourites to top Group One as it would have needed a defeat of massive proportions by Abbotskerswell to change the standings. That was never going to happen once Chudleigh totted up 153 for six in their 20 overs.
Two stands of 40 plus involving Fahan Adil (49) – one with Derek Perry (17) the other with Mark Halse (42) – soon had Chudleigh in control.
Halse kept going until 138 for four with assistance from Matt Hookway (12) and Ed Hunt (12) to keep the score going.
Abbots were bowled out for 89, which was hugely disappointing after they had been 79 for five at one stage.
Abbots survived the double demises if Steve Short (12) and Danny Full on 46, but had nothing left when wickets tumbled again.
All the Chudleigh bowlers took a wicket each, apart from Hunt who came on at the end and claimed two in five balls without conceding a run.
South Devon 138 (R Saeed 44, D Johnson 25; J Mason 2-19, R Bougard 2-20), Bovey Tracey 139-7 (M Makepeace 41, B Ayres 23, A deYonge 16, C Carter 14; R Bougard 12no; C Metters 3-25, P Blackmore 2-26). Bovey bt South Devon by 3 wkts.
Chudleigh 153-6 (F Adil 49, M Halse 42, D Perry 17), Abbotskerswell 89 (D Full 22, P Acton 17, S Short 12; E Hunt 2-0). Chudleigh bt Abbotskerswell by 64 runs.