Devon Cricket Board - Koopman thrashes second 50 off 25 balls

Koopman thrashes second 50 off 25 balls

GIONNE Koopman made up for lost time with an unbeaten century to set-up Plymouth for a 60-run win at Torquay.
South African Koopman has been cooling his heels for the last fortnight after picking up a two-match ban for an act of dissent in Plymouth’s game against Bovey Tracey.
Koopeman took his frustrations out on Torquay with a flawless ton that contained some devastating hitting as Plymouth amassed 289 for four in their 50 overs. James Toms had been and gone for 69 by then.
Toms and Ben Stein opened up with a stand of 84, the Koopman and Toms notched another 45.
After Toms and Jake Luffman – brilliantly caught at mid-wicket – went, followed by Jamie Walsh to a needless run-out going for a third, Koopman dominated.
In an unbroken stand of 109 with Joe Hagan-Burt the South African left-hander went from 50 to 100 in just 25 balls and amassed nine fours and five sixes.
Torquay seamer Nick Watkin bowled eight overs for 25 runs, the came back for a ninth and was flogged for 25 in it by Koopeman: two sixes, three fours and a single at the end.
Torquay were never up with the run rate in reply and at 87 for six an early finish looked likely.
Shifting the loser order prove tougher than expected though and Plymouth were down to the last over when the finally bowled out Torquay for 229.
Joe Thompson held it together with 87 off 95 balls and found a willing partner in Josh Hunt, who contributed 48 to a seventh-wicket stand of 107.
Plymouth shared the wickets around with Dan Goodey, Rob Bennett, Matt Hooper and Koopman all taking a couple.
It was a great game of cricket to watch – and a win to savour for skipper Matt Hooper.
“Gionne showed what we all knew he was capable of with the bat,” said Hooper.
“He played a brilliant innings and we are hopeful it is the first of many in the second half of the season.
“James Toms is also back to his best which is great news for Devon and us. Joe Hagan-Burt also again showed his potential with a good knock at the end.
“Ben Stein is rapidly turning himself into a batsman of note, his next challenge is turning the 30 into f50s and those into hundreds.
“We bowled well with Dan Goodey and Rob Bennett operating well with the new ball.
“John Kerridge again bowled some brilliant deliveries and is developing into a wicket-taking bowler. Like us all he needs to work on his consistency but that will come.
“We relaxed while they had the inevitable middle order partnership but dropped some easy catches and had some silly misfields which we all agreed wasn't good enough.”

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