Devon Cricket Board - Burke man of moment in Plymouth's last-gasp win

Burke man of moment in Plymouth's last-gasp win

HARRY Ramsden may have been man of the match but Dave Burke was the man of the moment as Plymouth beat Exeter by one wicket off the final ball of a thriller at the County Ground.
Exeter made 282 for six in their 50 overs – Miles Lenygon and Rob Holman both making half-centuries – and Plymouth took up the challenge of chasing it.
Ramsden’s 123 under-pinned the chase, Hal Kerton moved things along fron the other end in a stand of 149 for the sixth wicket then Burke and the tail-enders took Plymouth over the line in a desperately tense finish.
Plymouth reached the final over from Exeter’s George Greenway needed 11 to win with two wickets intact. Burke at one end, skipper Sam Stein at the other with a dazed Jon Kerridge still to come.
Kerridge had been it in the face wile fielding close to the bat and was struggling to see through blurred vision.
“I took a single, the next ball was a dot, then Sam hit a four through mid-off, missing the fielder by inches,” said Burke.
“Next ball Sam skied one and got out, but as we had crossed I was on strike, which was just as well as Jon could barely see.
“We took a two off the penultimate ball and the last one was just in the right slot for me to hit it for four. It was quite a finish.”
Burke played down his own role in the game, saying without Ramsden it is unlikely Plymouth would have got close.
“I have been playing Devon League cricket for the best part of 25 years and it is the best knock I have ever seen – it was faultless,” said Burke.
“Harry turned up a week into the season saying his folks had bought a farm near Saltash and he was looking for a game of cricket.
‘We didn’t know that much about him, but have since found out he was with Essex for a while and has scored Minor Counties hundreds for Hertfordshire, not that he says much about it.”
Burke said Plymouth should never have been chasing 283 to win, but only had themselves to blame.
“We bowled like morons,” said Burke.
“Exeter didn’t have a spinner and although we bowled poorly it was not having a spinner that made life hard for Exeter.”
Off-spinner Ramsden may have a case for exemption from Burke’s view of Plymouth’s bowling as he bowled 10 overs for 29 runs.
Exeter captain Lenygon said Plymouth should not have won from 103 for five and the bowlers need to ask themselves some questions.
“It was painful – I have never felt so gutted after a match wearing an Exeter shirt,” said Lenygon.
“Ramsden was strong on the leg side and we fed his strengths.
“Apart from Tom Barton and Tom Lammonby, our bowlers bowled both sides of the wicket too often.
“After that performance I would expect to see everyone at training this week – and some extra sessions would be a good idea.
“The performance we put in was not acceptable.”

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773