Devon Cricket Board - Plymouth edge towards safety by beating Exeter

Plymouth edge towards safety by beating Exeter

PLYMOUTH’S Premier Division survival prospects look a lot healthier after they defeated fellow relegation worriers Exeter by 73 runs.
Opener Mike Simmers top scored with 98 as Plymouth made 303 for seven in a game reduced to 47 overs each by a rain break.
Exeter were 230 for seven when their overs ran out – which looks a bit more convincing that it actually was.
Exeter had a good go at chasing the target, but slowed up after losing skipper Mile Lenygon and shut up shop for the last seven overs to deny Plymouth additional bonus bowling points.
Victory puts a 17-point gap between Plymouth and Paignton in the second relegation slot. It also lifts them above Exeter, whose safety margin is only 12 points.
Dave Burke, Plymouth’s senior player and a former 1^st XI captain, said safety is in sight but there is no room for complacency.
“The way we are playing makes me feel confident as we are in a decent form,” said Burke.
“The reason we are where we are is our first four games, when we only took 11 points.
“Since then we have taken 150 odd from 10 games – extrapolate that over the season and we would be up there with the top three.
“If we keep playing the way we have been we should be fine, but we can’t afford to assume anything yet.”
Burke said depth was the reason Plymouth have put their early problems behind them.
“Batting wise there is every chance we will have seven players making 300 runs this season,” said Burke. “Not many teams can say that.
“We used eight bowlers again Exeter, again not something many teams can do.
“All of them have a role to play – like Hal Kerton who bowls well in the powerplay – and are capable of match-winning contributions.”
Simmers, who has thrived opening the batting after adjusting to English conditions, was the keystone Plymouth built their innings around.
After James Toms went in the first over to veteran seamer Jon Tipper for a duck, Simmers batted on and on.
Simmers put on 64 with acting captain Harry Ramsden (29) – he was deputising for the injured Sam Stein – and 49 with Ben Stein (30).
George Stephenson hit a brisk 33 off 31 balls in a stand of 55 with Simmers.
And Kerton did was he has done all season in the middle order, make runs quickly.
Kerton was on 23 when Simmers was dismissed by Andy Mead (3-69) with the score on 236 for five.
Kerton went on to make 43 off 37 balls as Plymouth kept going to 300 and beyond.
Exeter went along at a five-a-over pace from the start which meant they were up with the clock and had Plymouth rattled.
“Three hundred wasn’t a lot above par for that pitch – and fair play to Exeter they went for it,” said Burke.
Former Devon opener Rob Holman (43) and Luciano Machedo (42) put on 43 for the second wicket – mostly scored by Holman.
Machedo and Sean Morris (57) added another 77 and when the South African keeper-batter departed Dom Bess (18) joined Morris to post another 46.
When Bess and Morris went to Henry Bennett in the space of three runs, Exeter needed 121 to win in 13 overs and the tide was turning against them.
Lenygon’s demise ended the game as a contest as the instruction was left to give Plymouth nothing in the time left.

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