Devon Cricket Board - Sidmouth favourites for cup hat-trick

Sidmouth favourites for cup hat-trick

SIDMOUTH go in search of a Devon Cup hat-trick today when they square up to Exmouth on the Mount Wise ground in Plymouth (1.00 pm).

Exmouth were already through to the final after their demolition job on Exeter in the last four, but had to wait for Sidmouth to settle their differences with Plymouth last Sunday.

It was a close-run thing for Sidmouth - they won by one wicket chasing 184 to win - but enough to keep them on course for a cup first.

No side has won the final three years running, something Sidmouth intend to change.

'It's never been done before so we will certainly be going all out to be the first,' said Sidmouth skipper Will Murray.

'Our record in the competition over the past ten years has been pretty good and in that time we have won it four times and only lost once, which was to Sandford.

'The current Exmouth side are a lot like Sandford were then - and having played Exmouth twice this season we know what to expect.

'It's one each between us in the league, but their form recently has been a little better than ours as they showed by hitting 400-odd against Exeter in the semi-final.'

Exmouth have never won the competition, but were beaten finalists in 2003 (Braunton) and 1982 (Plymouth).

Murray is going to have some selection issues to wrestle with for the final as at least one player who played in the semi could be left out.

Devon captain Josh Bess wasn't available for the semi, but will be for the final. Matt Hewer deputised and scored 29, so he will be hard to leave out.

Spinner Dom Bess - Josh's cousin - didn't play in the semi either. He has been assisting Somerset 2nd XI recently and the temptation for Murray will be to bring him in as well.

Exmouth skipper Richard Baggs has selection issues of a different kind as he is woefully depleted in the seam bowling department.

'Trevor Anning was injured playing for Devon, Mark Orchard is struggling because of a bad back to play twice over a weekend - and Toby Ingham isn't around,' said Baggs.

'We may have to open the bowling with a spinner as there isn't another option.

'I would say Sidmouth are slight favourites, but only that. Our aim has to be to make a big score batting first and go from there."

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