Devon Cricket Board - Holders out of Devon Cup

Holders out of Devon Cup

PAIGNTON captain Mike Pedley said he had some sympathy for opposite number Richard Baggs after his side ‘beat’ Exmouth in a tied Devon Cup tie at Queens Park.

Exmouth were all out for 170 with one ball of their 40 overs to go – and Paignton were dismissed for the same score midway through the 35^th over.

Competition rules work on countback, which meant the side with the most runs on the board in their penultimate over goes though. Advantage Paignton by 164 to 161.

Rules are rules, but Baggs wasn’t happy at the haphazard way they had been worked out.

Said Baggs: “Why then penultimate over or why not half way through?

“It seems totally random. If there is a dead heat in the Grand National they don’t decide the winner on who was leading 10 furlongs out.

“If a cup game ends in a tie the fairest way to decide it would be a bowl out.”

Pedley said it was a shame a ‘cracking game of cricket’ had to be decided that way, but rules are rules.

“I agreed with Richard that the rules are a bit archaic, but it is up to the clubs to come up with something better,” said Pedley.

“I do sympathise with him though as it happed to us a few years ago when we lost to Braunton the same way and it isn’t a great feeling.”

Richard Arnold made a top score of 43 not out for Exmouth with Baggs (29) and Andy Buzza (20) both chipping in.

Arnold was the anchorman in stands of 35 with Phil Holland and 38 with Toby Ingham.

Paignton captain Mike Pedley took three for 29.

Paignton’s reply started badly with opener Richard Cooper caught low down at slip by Stuart Rintoul off Arnold.

Bit by bit Paignton made inroads into the target with Rob Shergold (40) and Scott Baldry (24) making a 52-run dent then Connor Bryan (29) and Stephen George (12) knocked off another 26.

At 158 for seven with eight overs to go, the odds were stacked in Paignton’s favour.

Toby Ingham turned the game on its head by removing Mike Pedley and Bhanu DeSilva in the same over to leave Exmouth 166 for nine.

With the scores level Justin Mann was run out going for the second that would have won it outright. Then the rule book came out and Paignton went through anyway.

HOLDERS Sandford crashed out of the Tony Pryce Devon Senior Cup when they slumped to a 108-run defeat at Sidmouth.

Sidmouth’s 40-over total of 277 for eight always looked testing for Sandford – and so it proved. They were all out for 169 in reply.

Neil Hancock followed his Bradninch blitz 24 hours earlier – a hundred and five wickets in the same game – with a rapid 87 as Sidmouth piled up the runs.

Hanks blasted 10 fours and three sixes in a 75-ball stay that ended when he went for a fourth six off Ryan Glass (1-68) and was caught at long-on by Richard Coupe.

Along the way Hancock shared in a stand of 138 for the third wicket with in-form Sam Richardson, who clattered 64 off 66 balls.

Nick Gingell primed the pumps for Sidmouth with 30 off 17 deliveries before Hancock and Richardson tucked in.

Pick of the Sandford bowlers in terms of economy were Coupe (0-28) and Simon Ashplant (3-27). Tienne Mostert took three wickets at a price of 64 runs.

Sandford were soon behind the clock and without a couple of sizeable scores were never in with a chance.

Mostert made 30 in a hurry, Shaun Hawkins took a bit more time over his 30 and skipper Adrian Small hit 29.

Scott Barlow (2-23) applied the brake at the start, Mikes Dalton (2-29) kept it on and Will Murray (3-16) steered Sandford into the ditch.

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