Bovey show they can do it without Lake

BOVEY Tracey proved they could win matches without Zimbabwean all-rounder Malcolm Lake by handing out a four-wicket defeat to Exmouth.

Lake, who is closing fast on 600 league runs for the season, has flown home for a family holiday now the university term is over.

Exmouth were delighted to learn on arrival Lake wasn’t playing, but the smiles were soon wiped from their faces out in the field.

Opener Sandy Allen (28) and David Lye (32) got Exmouth up to 66 for one after the early departure of skipper Richard Baggs, whose lean run in the league continued.

Ryan Bougourd (3-35) snared Lye then Allen lbw as 66 for one became 69 for three.

And with Sam Hickenbbottom and Chris Bradley joining in, Exmouth suffered a major collapse to 79 for six.

Jon Evennett (14) and Marquis Clarke (15) hung around to put on 29 for the seventh wicket before Hickenbottom broke the stand.

In the space of three balls Hickenbottom (4-31) sent back Clarke then Evennett, leaving Matt Golding (2-7) to spin out the tail enders.

Knocking off the runs was anything but a cakewalk for Bovey, who were 75 for six in reply with 17 overs gone.

Clarke (3-43) had done the early damage then left-arm spinner Gary Chappell (2-21) had joined in.

When Hickenbottom came out to join Golding, who was unbeaten on 26, the game was in the balance.

Their stand of 47 unbroken – Golding finishing on 50 not out – sealed the game for Bovey.

Victory keeps Bovey third in the table, 11 points behind Torquay in second slot.

Skipper Peter Bradley said the point had been made there was more to Bovey than Malcolm Lake.

It was a good win as we were missing Lakey, arguable the form player in the league, and a couple others against a very experienced team,” said Bradley.

“Matt Golding again showed his class with the bat with a match-winning innings for us.

“Sam Hickenbottom just makes things happen in the middle overs.

“He picks up big wickets and is always at the batsman – and also  got us over the line with the bat.

“Sam is a very useful, competitive all-rounder.”

Exmouth drop down to sixth and with 32 points between them and leaders North Devon may be thinking their title hopes are over for another year?

Skipper Baggs said nothing could be further from the truth, while agreeing his side played poorly.

For us to go from 70 for one to 116 all out is just not good enough,” said bags.

“Then at 40 for fice we let them off the hook. We  did not show enough intensity and basically were not good enough.

It was our worst display all year, but there is a long way to go and we can still win it.”

 

 


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