Devon Cricket Board - Simpson unwilling to settle for mid-table mediocrity

Simpson unwilling to settle for mid-table mediocrity

SHOBROOKE Park are up to third in the B Division table after beating Chudleigh by six-wickets to knock them off the top.

The new leaders are Ipplepen, who beat Plymstock to go past Chudleigh.

Ed Foreman, the Chudleigh captain, said his side were marginally off the pace against Shobrooke.

“I think we played well but just didn't have the cutting edge with bat or ball,” he said.

“We scored a good total but it was probably 20-30 runs short and we didn't do enough to trouble the Shobrooke batsman with the ball.

“Confidence is high, and it's only the little things that need to change.

“We are still around where we want to be in the table.

“We will pick ourselves up and try again next week.”

Chudleigh recovered from a middle-order collapse – they dipped from 146 for two to 174 for six – to make 224 for eight in 45 overs.

Ed Foreman (44) and Matt Heather (62) made early runs in a second wicket stand of 92.

The problems started when Dan Britcliffe (22) was run out by Shobrooke skipper Chris Simpson.

The wickets stopped tumbling while Rob Clarke (30) and Will Heather (14) put on 32 to take the score past 200.

Dylan Blignaut had three Chudleigh wickets for 51 runs and there were two at the top of the order for Tom Youngman (2-38), who also ran out Sean Newland.

Simpson was an early casualty for Shobrooke – in and out for six to Faisel Khakiq – but after that it was plain sailing.

Chris Ford (36) and Blignaut (72) took care of 66 runs between them and Richard Pyle (40) helped Blignaut add anther 87,

Hugh Stronge sent back Blignaut at 171, leaving Pyle to tie up the loose ends with Phil Anning and Adrian Codling.

Skipper Simpson said the side had been tweaked in one or two places and the changes had worked.

“Dylan Bignault was promoted to three -and it paid off,” said Simpson.

“He looked really good, looks like a great replacement for Dan Pyle until he gets back.

“Richard Pyle then came in at four, hit a couple of early boundaries and didn't look back. He got us home with a couple of overs left.”

Shobrooke are now up to fourth in the table going into this Saturday’s meeting with improving Axminster.

Simpson said he was setting his sights a bit higher than mid-table.

“If you look at just staying mid table it would be easy to get relegated as everyone can beat anyone on their day,” said Simpson.

“We just wasn’t to keep playing good cricket and see what happens.”

Simpson, in his first season as captain, said there was one important member of the team whose name never appears in reports – scorer Louise James.

“She does all the paper work for me, helps out week in, week out, and makes my job a lot easier,” said Simpson.

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