Devon Cricket Board - Bovey stay hard on heels of leaders

Bovey stay hard on heels of leaders

BOVEY Tracey walloped Plymouth by 156 runs to stay hard on the heels of Torquay at the top of the Premier table.
Malcolm Lake smashed his second successive league century – he took 103 off Heathcoat seven days earlier – in a whopping Bovey total of 326 for eight.
It was the highest team total in the Premier Division for the past two seasons.
Lake and fellow opener Jordan Willoughby (45) flayed the Plymouth bowling for 138 in the first 22 overs.
Off-spinner Ben Stein (2-44) broke the stand when he had Willoughby caught and bowled – and almost immediately Dan Goodey snaffled Bovey captain Pete Bradley for a duck.
That was as good as it got for Plymouth as third wicket pair Lake and Matt Golding helped themselves to 91 for the third wicket.
Ben Stein persevered and finally claimed former Zimbabwe U19 captain Lake leg-before for 138.
Lake faced 125 balls in 145 minutes and hit 18 fours and three sixes.
Golding kept going until the penultimate over on his way to 74 off 78 balls.
There were stands of 32 with Charlie Sheen – he made four! – and 46 with Ben Ayres (17).
Mike Simmers (2-40) picked up Sheen and Chris Bradley in the last session.
Bowling wise it was a forgettable day for Plymouth with Ben Stein the only bowler to go for less than five an over. Brother Sam was none for 51 from six.
Realistically, Plymouth needed one of their top three or four to five – and none of them mad more than 25.
Golding (3-35) and Ryan Bougourd (1-24) dealt with openers Ben Stein and James Toms respectively, them Chris Bradley had dangerman Harry Ramsden lbw for 18.
The former Essex 2nd XI and Hertfordshire all-rounder had looked good in his first four games for Plymouh, having arrived largely un-announced at the start of the season.
Spinner Toby Codd (5-40) got into the Plymouth middle order as they lost wickets steadily.
There were odd bouts of defiance – John Varcoe, Hal Kerton and Dave Burke all hung around for a while – but 101 for five at halfway wasn’t the platform to go on and win.
Golding mopped up the stragglers as Plymouth were bowled out for 166 with more than 13 overs to go.
Skipper Peter Bradley said it was inevitable Lake would be the centre of attention after making successive centuries, but there was more to Bovey’s run of wins than one player.
Bradley said Codd was adjusting well to the Premier Division after stepping up from Abbotskerswell – and he isn’t the only one performing.
“Toby has bowled well in every game this season and has been unlucky not to get his full allocation of overs in most games,” said Bradley.
“I haven't heard anything from any Devon coaches or mangers, but we have plenty of guys performing well.
Along with Coddy, we have people like Lewis Hammet behind the stumps, who has kept well for the past two season and at 22 could be worth a look at for the Lions.
“Charlie Sheen and Sam Hickingbottom are very exciting all-rounders and only 24.
“It's hard for them to get big runs coming in with only a few overs to go, when you have Lake smashing back-to-back centuries.”
Sam Stein, the Plymouth captain, said Lake was the difference between the sides and Plymouth did themselves no favours where he was concerned.
“It was a tough day for us all,” said Stein.
“Lake went after us from ball one – and It didn't help that we dropped him three times, the first time on seven.
“Had we got him out I think we could have taken a lot more control of the game.”
Stein said Plymouth can’t dwell on the defeat and have to concentrate on bouncing back.
“We are all working hard to improve each week,” said Stein.
“We will be training and preparing for next week’s game against Sidmouth.”

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