Devon Cricket Board - Huxtable wary of former team-mates

Huxtable wary of former team-mates

NORTH Devon captain Barney Huxtable believes Exmouth will be the team to beat in today's Servicemaster Clean Devon T20 finals day at Exeter.
Exmouth face Cornwood at 10.30 am in the first semi-final on the County Ground with North Devon due to play Paignton around 1.30 pm.
The final is scheduled for 5.00 pm.
Huxtable is well qualified to talk about Exmouth having spent the 2011 and 2012 as a player at the Maer Ground.
'Exmouth are the main contenders in my eyes,' said Huxtable, who is standing in for the holidaying Matt Westaway.
'With their batting line up and experience they are going to be a hard side to beat.
“Cornwood have a few key players – the likes of Jason hall and obviously Jackson Thompson, who can take the game away from any side.
“With our bowling attack I'm feeling confident but it won't be easy at all.'
North Devon have to get past Paignton first before they start worrying about Exmouth, which Huxtable admits won't be a stroll either.
“It should be a good game against Paignton, but with our pace attack we are feeling confident,” said Huxtable.
“I have only heard good things about Paignton's overseas player Zubyar Hamza.
“In T20 cricket it can be very hard to predict an outcome, especially against a side like Paignton who are very young and have a lot of talent.”
Somerset's Jamie Overton is available for selection today and will play for North Devon.
Changes to the side that played Bovey Tracey yesterday see Rob Ayre replacing Richard Screech behind the stumps and Jack Hocking replacing Ed Yeo.
Cornwood have named a 13-man squad for the day, which includes veteran keeper-batter Duncan Boase in what could be his last 1st XI game.
Boase can't keep wicket now due to arthritis and ruled himself out of 1st XI selection a while ago.
With Mark Horwell behind the stumps there is no need for Boase to pull on the gloves, so he could play just as a batsman.
And is form in the 2nd XI has been so good recently, Cornwood have lured him back.
Exmouth in the morning semi-final will be tough for the Corns, but it's a challenge they are up for.
“We will be giving our all to win the first match against Exmouth and hope to carry on the T20 form that comfortably beat Plympton in the Ivor Dewdney Pasties west district competition, then Bridestowe in the eliminator match,” said chairman of selectors Nick Goodliffe.
“We have a very athletic fielding side and are confident we can keep the pressure on the opposition when they are batting.
'We also have the batsmen to keep the runs coming at a fair rate when its our turn.
“So we expect to be in the mix, looking to give it a real go against Exmouth and see what happens.”
Exmouth won the county T20 in 2010 when then beat Bradninch in the county final before losing to Bridgwater at regional stage.
Skipper Gary Chappell, who captains the T20 side instead of Richard Baggs, says Exmouth have every reason to be quietly confident without being disrespectful of the opposition.
“All four sides at finals day have some decent players and good-looking bowling attacks,” said Chappell.
“Where I think we have a bit of an advantage is in the depth of our batting.
“Totals of 140 aren’t going to be enough as most sides can chase that down by batting sensibly.
“With our batting we are capable of exceeding that, going in first or second.”
Exmouth’s problems in the league have been largely due to being a seamer short on Saturday afternoons with Matt Webb missing long term and Ollie Dawe only just back in action after an operation.
For cup games Exmouth are strengthened by the availability of former Somerset, Surrey and Devon fast bowler Ian Bishop, who plays his Saturday cricket in Taunton these days.
‘Bishop is an extra option and a handy one to have,’ said Chappell.
The competition is sponsored by Servicemaster Devon, whose owner is former Exmouth cricketer Greg Evans. He will present the trophy to the winning captain.
Stuart Munday, the Devon League chairman, will adjudicate the man of the match award.
Today’s winners will go forward to represent Devon in the West region qualifier for the ECB National Competition, which this year is being staged at Sidmouth on August 10.

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