Devon Cricket Board - Budleigh call up the big guns for promotion push

Budleigh call up the big guns for promotion push

BUDLEIGH Salterton have brought in some heavy artillery to boost their promotion push in the A Division this seaon.
Zimbabwean all-rounder Cephas Zhuwao is the overseas player at Ottermouth this season and he arrives with quite a reputation.
Zhuwao revels in the nickname ‘Big Bully’ and a quick look at some facts and figures shows why.
The left-hander plundered 1,437 runs at 58.92 in all formats for Thames Valley League club Eversley in 2013, including five hundreds and 699 runs at 49.93 in the league.
An incredible innings against the Lashings World XI, when Zhuwao struck 10 sixes en-route to a 40-ball 80 culminated with selection for Lashings throughout the rest of the summer.
He didn't disappoint, belting some big innings for the World XI, including a breath-taking 36-ball 119 not out that included 14 sixes.
He bowls tidy left-arm spin too.
The 30 year old has played one-day and T20 internationals for Zimbabwe and First Class for Northerns and currently Mashonaland Eagles.
New skipper Lloyd White – he has taken over from Joel Murphy – believes Zhuwao will be a match-winner for Budleigh this season.
“To get a player like Cephas is fantastic,” said White.
“To have someone with not only international experience, but a player who can change matches in a matter of overs is a real bonus.
“He has only been here a few days but has already fitted in so well. He certainly lives up to his nickname and I just can’t wait to see him get going in the league.”
White will get the chance on Saturday when Budleigh visit Brixham.
Having been relegated from the Premier Division in 2013, Budleigh failed to get back at the first attempt last year and finished third.
Notable signings during the winter have been former Devon spinners Rob Newman and Andy Procter and former Devon U21 batter Sam Richardson. All three have played for the club in the past.
Gone are James Burke (Surrey), Ben Phillips (Wellington), Neil Murrin (Alphington) and Jack Dart (Heathcoat).
All-rounder Rob Craze is back on board for the first half of the season and university students Harry Parkin and Eliot Rice will be travelling back to play at weekends.
White feels Budleigh should be in the Premier Division, but accepts improvements are needed from last season to get there.
“My main ambition as captain is a top-four finish with a real push for promotion,” said White.
“In my opinion we are a good enough side on paper to play Premier cricket.
“However a real lack of application in the past has let us slip off that Premier radar.
We showed this last season in batches by beating Sidmouth, Heathcoat in T20 cricket and narrowly losing to Exmouth in the area final.
“With similar application, team spirit and focus, we can compete in the longer format too.
One thing all players at Budleigh need to work on is applying ourselves better for big-game situations and ensuring our concentration throughout the entire game does not slip.”

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