Devon Cricket Board - Stars on show a Bideford for Arul

Stars on show a Bideford for Arul

A FULL house of around 600 supporters enjoyed all the thrills and spills of crash-bang-wallop cricket when Somerset visited Bideford as part of Arul Suppiah’s benefit season.

The twenty-20 match was also a fund-raiser for the Children’s Hospice South West in nearby Fremmington, the charity he has linked up with this year and which has been supported by both Bideford CC and Somerset for some time.

Suppiah (left) was unable to play following his recent retirement due to injury, so the Somerset side was captained by Steve Kirby, who won the toss and decided to bat first.

Openers Tom Abell (25) and Chris Jones (23) put together a rapid 44 for the first wicket in just 3.5 overs and the tempo was maintained by James Hildreth (44) and Lewis Gregory who (22).

The star of the show was wicketkeeper James Regan who came in at five and proceeded to smash 95 not out off just 39 balls, hitting nine fours and six sixes as Somerset ended their 20 overs on 243 for six.

The Bideford did not get off to the best of starts, as they slumped to 14 for four with local lad Jamie Overton taking two for two for Somerset in his first over.

As Kirby rotated the bowlers, the Bideford side were able to up the scoring rate with captain James Ford hitting 56 and Richard Stanbury 48.

The massive victory target proved to be too much for the amateurs, and the overs ran out with the home side on 194 for seven, giving Somerset victory by 49 runs.

‘Arul and his benefit committee wish to record their thanks to everyone at Bideford CC involved in putting on the game,’ said Eric Cole from the benefit committee team.

‘Also grateful thanks to the main match day sponsors HolidayCottages.co.uk and to all the other sponsors.’

The next benefit match will be at Callington CC in Cornwall on Wednesday, July 24 starting at 4.30 pm.

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773