Devon Cricket Board - A Division Lewdown win on chase against Barton

A Division Lewdown win on chase against Barton

LEWDOWN produced some of their best cricket – and some of their worst – in a six-wicket win over visiting Barton.
Barton were bowled out for 164 in the 37^th over – which looked hardly likely when they were 74 without loss a dozen overs in.
Shaun Needham clubbed 64 off 68 balls – he and Damon Calland opened up – then Steve Lewis (25) let and end going for a steady 25.
Charlie Hughes (1-32) got the brake on Barton’s batters and as the rate slowed Gary Sizmur (3-23) and Matt Jordan (4-31) picked up wickets.
Tom Porter chipped and ran a brisk 32 not out before running out of people to bat with!
Lewdown had a brief blip on the chase when openers Gary Sizmur (23) and Dave Ball (32) fell in the same over on at 60 and 61, but went on to complete a routine victory.
Marco Marais made an unbeaten 52 off 42 balls and Jordan 38 in a stand of 66 for the fourth wicket that took Lewdown in sight of victory.
Stuart Bowker’s three for 35 was the pick of the bowling, although South African Denovan Ekstraal proved hard to get away at times.
By the time Porter removed Jordan, the target was ten to win and the game as good as over.
Skipper Harry Geering said two games into Lewdown’s A Division adventure – they were promoted into it this season – the signs look encouraging.
“For the first 15 overs or so we played some of the worst cricket I can ever remember coming up through the divisions – and after that we played some of our best,” said Geering.
“Needham only bats one way – he likes to get on with it – and we helped by dropping him three or four times.
“Once we got him there wasn’t too much to come, at least that is the way Charlie Hughes, Mark Jordan and Gary Sizmur made it seem. They bowled brilliantly.
“Barton looked more of a bowling side and we had to treat them with respect.
“The openers gave us a solid start and Marco did what he does, which is score runs efficiently.
“Two games in we are doing ok. Had we been a bit better for 10 overs at Budleigh last week we could have 38 points out of 40 by now.”
BUDLEIGH Salterton are top of the shop in the A Division after a tense win over Chudleigh in a low-scoring affair.
Seamer Rob Clarke took three for 17 and Jack Vittles spun his way to three for 20 as Chudleigh dismissed the Otters for 106.

It wasn’t a great score on paper –and would have been a lot less without some sticking around from Budleigh skipper Joel Murphy.

Murphy came in a 77 for seven and made 17 to wring vital runs out of the tail. When he went in Budleigh had just lost five wickets for 13 runs.

Only openers Elliot Rice (13) and Harry Parkin (27) reached double figures apart from Murphy.

Chudleigh’s batting was a disaster as they couldn’ get ex-pro Ben Phillips away and lost wickets to Lloyd Murrin (2-20) and Luke Paterson (4-39) trying to make up lost ground.

Murphy’s fear was, with rain about, Chudleigh would have a thrash in the hope of getting ahead of the run rate. There is no Duckworth-Lewis in the Devon League.

Faizal Khan, the Belgian international signed by Chudleigh last week, made a top score of 24 not out after coming in at 36 for six.

Khan was still there when Paterson bowled Ben Holmes to dismiss Chudleigh for 82.

Murphy said 106 was a better total than it looked in soggy conditions, although he feared more than once it wouldn’t be enough.

“Getting Derek Perry out was vital as it had a snowball effect on the rest of their batting,” said Murphy.

“We had them 15 for four and 36 for six, but with the rain about that was when I worried.

“They only had to get ahead of the run rate irrespective of wickets lost and could have beaten us that way.

“The bowlers did us proud – nine out of ten were either lbw or bowled – and they performed across the board.

“The scorebook says Ben Phillips was unplayable and Luke Paterson chewed up the tail. I was pleased how well Lloyd Murrin bowled. He has worked hard on his game and now looks a real threat.”

Chudleigh skipper Ed Foreman didn’t see the game quite the same way as Murphy.

“Once again we bowled and fielded exceptionally well,” said Foreman.

“I am very happy with the way a young bowling attack is showing so much maturity.

“Unfortunately for us this is not transferring to our batting.

“More responsibility needs to be taken by our top order and I am confident results will start coming our way.”

Chudleigh go to Barton this Saturday. Budleigh are away to Plympton.

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