Devon Cricket Board - A Division previews

HE’S here! Budleigh Salterton’s big-hitting Zimbabwean Cephas Zhuwao will make his belated debut against Barton this Saturday.
Zhuwo – nicknamed the ‘Big Bully’ for his robust approached to batting - plundered 1,437 runs at 58.92 in all formats for Thames Valley League club Eversley in 2013.
He smashed 119 off 36 balls playing for the Lashings World XI that same summer, reducing bowlers to quivering wrecks.
And after last Saturday’s disaster against Cornwood, Budleigh captain Lloyd White will be relieved the visa problems that delayed Zhuwao’s arrival have been sorted out.
Cornwood reach 219 for eight in 50 overs, then Budleigh plunged from 53 for one to 73 for eight in reply on their way to 86 all out.
Budleigh are confident their ground will be fit this week after waterlogging forced them to borrow a school ground for the 2nd XI fixture last Saturday.
“There are one or two damp spots on the outfield, but the wicket is fine and the game will go ahead,” said chairman Neil Rice.
Barton lose batter Simon Bellamy, but welcome back keeper-batsman Andy Hele.
Barton lost by four runs to Brixham last time out, a result skipper Adam Parker wants to see a reaction too.
Parker was convinced afterwards it was a game Barton lost rather than Brixham won.
“We should have won from the position we were in,” said Parker.
“They got off to a flyer and we did really well to peg them back. We should never have let them score 141 from being 90 for seven.
“The biggest disappointment of the whole day was giving away 38 extras.
“You aren't going to win many games when you give this many runs away and that doesn't include runs given off the extra deliveries.
“Had we halved this total on Saturday it would have been a completely different game.”
“We will come back strong this week and work hard to put things right, it is still very early days.
“I have every confidence that we will bounce back and get back to winning ways.”
SANDFORD welcome back former Devon batsmen Adrian Small for the derby clash with Bradninch.
Small hasn’t played a game this season but his return is well timed for Sandford.
Skipper Jamie Palmer was seriously embarrassed by the 95-run defeat by Lewdown last time out, when the batting went AWOL with one exception.
Opener Dave Ball made a hundred as Lewdown negotiated tidy spells from Ryan Glass (4-32) and Brian Leach (2-23) to make 209 all out.
Sandford were all out for 114 in reply – and most of those came Zimbabwean newcomer Prince Maseuare, who made 82 not out on his debut.
Leach is out injured for a couple of weeks with an ankle ligament strain.
Charles Fitzroy comes in for his debut to replace him.
Batter Fitzroy, a Devon age-group player, was with Chagford last season.
Bradninch look in good nick for the game after routing depleted Tavistock by nine wickets.
Tavistock were all out for 67 in exactly 33 overs – Ross Acton (3-21) and spinner Will Squire (4-9) doing most of the damage.
Bradinch didn’t hang around knocking off the runs – it was job done in the 14th over.
Dan Hardy made 22 not out and Charlie Walker an unbeaten 34 on the chase.
TAVISTOCK go into the derby clash with Hatherleigh with skipper Shaun Daymond issuing a order to the batsmen.
“We need to apply ourselves better with a bat, If we do we know we will compete,” said Daymond, clearly referring to the 67 all-out disaster at Bradninch last Saturday.
Keeper Dave Manning and spinner Lee Baker are back, but Ian Gray and James McGahey are missing.
“Still not getting the players we want out, but that's the same for a lot so no excuses,” said Daymond.
Hatherleigh skipper Mark Lake came back from one injury last week, but is out again, this time with a broken thumb.
Marc Brock is also out, but batter Gareth Tidball is back in.
Hatherleigh have signed Simon Clements from village club Petrockstowe to bolster the 1st team squad he could be in line to make his debut.
LEWDOWN skipper Harry Geering is confident his side will take their ‘A game’ into tomorrow’s away game at Brixham.
The win over Lewdown last Saturday kick started the season after an opening day loss to Ivybridge.
Brixham are unbeaten in third place and sending out a clear message were they want to go.
“Looking at Brixham so far this season, it's obviously going to be a tough game,” said Geering
“They've got the look of a promotion side to them, so we will need to be concentrating well to either bat our overs out and produce a good score or by taking out chances in the field.
“We still have a few players missing so will be looking to fight hard for every point we can get and try and get ourselves into a position to win the game if good enough.
“Baring the first week of the season where we were at our worst I have been happy with the season so far.”
BIDEFORD – at home to Cornwood – have been hit by an injury blow.
Bowling all-rounder Fred King is out for 6-8 weeks with ankle ligament damage.
On the plus side seamer Paul Heard is available after injury, but probably just as a batsman.