Devon Cricket Board - North Devon through in first semi-final

North Devon through in first semi-final

Rob Gear hits out for North Devon against Torquay. Below, Josh Hunt batting for Torquay. Photos: Keith Palmer

NORTH Devon are through to the final of the Ivor Dewdney Devon T20 Cup following a 44-run win over Torquay in the first semi-final at Exeter.
North Devon made 139 for five after being put in by Torquay’s captain for the day Mickey Wilkinson – Rob Gear making a bright and breezy 48 not out off 35 balls.

Openers Jason Smith and Barney Huxtable came crashing down from their record breaking exploits the day before against Bovey in the Premier Division, departing for two and six respectively in a running total of 11 for two.

A tidy spell from Torquay’s former Exeter left-armer Jack Richardson (2-18) on his return to the County Ground helped keep the lid on North Devon.

Second team captain Tom Hawkins (1-24) and Dan Wightman (1-23) also put in tight sets of four.

Craig Overton (24) and Glenn Querl (23) got North Devon moving with a stand of 50.

After they went on 61 and 65 it was left to Gear and Jas Kalsi (21no) to put on 46 unbroken at the end.

Torquay went into the game with some of their big guns missing – no Thompsons, no Watkin, no Passenger and no Matt Hunt – and found North Devon’s bowling tough to get away.

Querl managed a T20 curiosity – a maiden – in his figures of one for two in three overs.

Smith (1-15) and Matt Westway (2-19) kept it tight and skipper Matt Dart kept it even tighter on his way to figures of three for 14.

Des Kruger top scored for Torquay with 29 – he was second out at 45 – and Hawkins made 14 in a total of 95 for eight.

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