Devon Cricket Board - Barlow magic speeds Sidmouth to victory

Barlow magic speeds Sidmouth to victory

SIDMOUTH’S Scott Barlow chalked up a cricketing oddity in the win over Exmouth when he went one better than a hat-trick

Barlow took four wickets in four balls on his way to a career-best Premier Division haul of five for 19 on a dramatic afternoon at the Fortfield.

Exmouth, who were chasing 149 to win were 20 for five after Barlow had finished with them and just about damaged beyond repair.

Sandy Allen stuck around to make 31 and Gary Chappell hit 25, but what Barlow started when he bowled David Lye was finished off by Will Murray (3-35) and Josh Bess (1-19). Exmouth lost by 32 runs.

Hat-tricks are rare enough in adult cricket, but four wickets in four balls takes some doing.

Devon League records are not great – there are none for the period between 1972-1984, however since proper stats have been kept there are only three other instances of four in four.

They are:

Liam Rice for Torquay against Plymouth – 2001

Adam Gingell for Exmouth against Budleigh – 2005

Stephen George for Paignton versus Exeter in 2002

Budleigh Salterton captain Joel Murphy has a four in four acquired playing for Bradninch against Alphington in a B Division game in 2004.

“Without Scott’s four in four I would not have been surprised if Exmouth had beaten us,” said Sidmouth captain Will Murray.

“Looking at the scoreboard we struggled to make 140 – it must have been Scott’s day as he made 43 not out – and I felt we were 40-50 runs short of a good score.

“It was a day for Scott’s bowling, the ball was swinging late and that really suited him.

“Scott has had a hat-trick before – that was against Barton (2006) – and produced another bit of magic just when it was needed.”

Richard Baggs, the Exmouth captain, was generous in defeat and already looking ahead to the rest of the season, which starts at Torquay this Saturday.

“Sometimes you just have to say ‘well played’ and move on,” said Baggs.

“Scott got 43 not out and five for 19 so that was the difference,

I was really pleased with how Sandy and Gary Chappell played, also Mark Orchard and Jamie Tapper added 39 for ninth wicket.

“Not worried about loses as all teams will lose some games.

“What’s important is to bounce back against Torquay.

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