Devon Cricket Board - Premier Division: Passenger wary of wounded Exmouth

TORQUAY skipper Ben Passenger is wary of wounded Exmouth making their way to the Recreation Ground tomorrow.
Two weeks into the season Exmouth lost by 32 runs to defending champions Sidmouth – a result that didn’t help their prospects of snatching the title off their close neighbours this season.
Exmouth skipper Richard Baggs will want to make it business as usual again – and that’s why Passenger is wary.
Torquay may have won comfortably at Exeter last time out, but Exmouth will be a different proposition.
“With a team as good as Exmouth there is always the chance of a backlash when they have had a defeat,” said Passenger.
“Exmouth have their targets this season and will be looking to pick up points against us. Our job is to stop that happening.”
Torquay keep to the side that won at Exeter, which means another outing for new signing Jack Bradbury.
Seam bowler Bradbury – originally from the Tiverton area – has been recruited by Torquay vice-captain Matt Thompson, who knows him from college.
Exmouth are unchanged and in the words of skipper Baggs are ‘looking to bounce back’.

SOMEONE’S going to be disappointed after Bovey Tracey’s game against Plymouth is over as an unbeaten record has to go.
Both sides are unbeaten so far with Plymouth looking sharp thanks to back-to-back centuries from South African Marnus Labucshange.
Bovey’s own overseas player Damian Bourke has made consecutive scores of 77 and 81, so looks in pretty good nick himself.
Peter Bradley, the Bovey captain, has a healthy respect for Plymouth but that doesn’t extend to lying awake at night worrying about them.
“Plymouth were a decent team last year and Labuschange has made them a bit stronger,” said Bradley.
“We will want to get him out early if we can by building pressure when we bowl.
“ I would imagine Plymouth are saying much the same about Damian, who has made an impressive start to his time with us.”
Devon seamer Ryan Bougourd is unlikely to play due to work commitments. If he fails to make it Bradley will make a late choice on his replacement.
Plymouth make one change to the side that won at Bradninch, bringing in Rob Button for Sam Stein.
More of the same is the message from Plymouth skipper Matt Hooper, who looks well equipped to be the first captain of the club to lift the Premier title.
“I am looking for the same as the previous two weeks - the bowlers to bowl with discipline, skill and as a unit, the fielding to be of the standard it has been so far and the batters to score big if they get in,” said Hooper.
“However, we know we are going to be in a real battle against Bovey. Like us they have won their first two so it should be a cracking match.”

SIDMOUTH’S hopes of seeing more of Adam Dibble this season have been thwarted by injury.
Somerset staff Dibble played in the win over Exmouth last Saturday and Sidmouth had hoped to have him against Cornwood tomorrow.
But Dibble suffered an injury while acting as 12th man for Somerset 1st XI in the week and is out until further notice.
“Adam split the webbing between his fingers while fielding and that’s him out for a week or two,” said Sidmouth skipper Will Murray. Harrison Jones comes in as bowling cover.
Sidmouth are played two and won both while Cornwood have won one and lost the other since coming up from the A Division.
Murray agreed Cornwood are an unknown quantity, although one or two things are obvious from their results and post-match comments.
“Clearly Asif Raza is a handy overseas player for them, judging from the scorecards from the past two weeks,” said Murray.
“It also seems they are finding the new format in the Premier Division a bit of a struggle.
“It is up to us to put on a professional show and keep our winning run going.”
Cornwood skipper Craig Harris wouldn’t disagree with Murray’s assessment, although he believes his side are quick learners.
“We knew leading in to the season that we would be playing some games where we were likely to be out played, out classed or out schooled with regards to experience of this format,” said Harris.
“Playing Bovey in the second week was a help. If it had come later in the season we may have lost out on some opportunities to pick up more points.
“This weekend we need to be more disciplined in our bowling lines, trying to hit consistent lines so that we can set fields that support the bowlers, and look to carry through our tempo and intensity in the field.
“Sidmouth are a class act and their record speaks for itself. We are well aware that in our first three games we are playing two of the teams likely to end up fighting for the league.
“We go in to the game looking to compete and give as much of an account of ourselves as possible.
“Points are important to us and so we know we will have to work hard to get what we want out of this match.”
Team news is that Jason Hall is out injured after dislocating a finger last week, and Andy Bees is also out injured with a foot problem. Cornwood bring in Robin Dart and veteran Duncan Boase.

BRADNINCH captain Tim Piper is looking to cash in against Budleigh Salterton at Ottermouth.
Neither side has won a game yet, but Piper is confident the wait won’t last much longer.
“We had a fixture against Budleigh pre season, so we have a fair idea of what we are up against,” said Piper.
“Budleigh had a couple missing that day, but I feel we know our opposition well enough to take advantage.
“They have a few very decent cricketers in their team with the likes of James Burke, Bobby Dawson and Matt Kidd, but from previous seasons, we know they don't have much depth. I'm hoping that's still the case!
“We've had a slow start so far, but have played Exmouth, who are a top-two team in my opinion, and Plymouth, who seem to have signed a very organised cricketer in Marnus Labuschagne
“Bradninch has a lot more to offer and I am anticipating a strong performance this weekend.”
Team news is Nick Dean is out injured but Tim Clews back in after recovering from a knee injury from opening game against Exmouth.

NORTH Devon head for their County Ground date against Exeter looking for build on their seven-wicket win over Budleigh Salterton.
An opening day defeat at Plymouth shocked North Devon, but they seemed back on track against Budleigh,
Skipper Matt Dart expects a testing afternoon against a team that has lost both games since rejoining the top flight this season.
“It will be a tough one as Exeter need to open their league account and will be well up for it,” said Dart.
“If we play the way we did against Budleigh, I will be happy.”
If Exeter skipper Jon Tipper is feeling the pressure, he certainly isn’t showing it.
As far as Tipper is concerned, Exeter are improving week on week
“It was good to see an improvement against Torquay from the previous week, however we still need to improve in all areas of the game, particularly our bowling and fielding,” said Tipper.
“We dropped crucial catches last week, and looking ahead to North Devon and their batting line-up we can’t afford to let chances go.
“It was good to beat Ivybridge in the Devon Cup on Sunday as any win gives you a lift, and this is something we can look to build on.
“We know North Devon represent a very tough challenge, but these are the games we look forward to.”
Team news from Exeter is Miles Lenygon has recovered from illness and replaces Alec Bosomworth while keeper Cam Grainger-Evans is back in for Robin Fern.
North Devon welcome back seamer Matt Westaway, which means Fergus O’Donnell drops into the 2^nd
XI.