- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
Devon tie first warm-up game
SUNDAY, APRIL 11
THERE was a thrilling finish to Devon’s pre-season friendly against the county U21 side at Exeter as it ended in a tie.
Devon were all out for 179 midway through the 48th of their 50 overs – former captain Bob Dawson top scoring on 44.
The U21s had a mid-innings wobble when they dipped from 46 without loss to 60 for four, which included losing Andrew Buzza for a quickfire 32 off 39 balls.
Sam Smith, the highly rated Heathcoat youngster, held the chase together with a fine 67 and had he batted through the U21s would surely have won. Smith batted himself into contention for a place in the side to face Cardiff UCCE at Exmouth this Sunday, but had to decline the chance due to college commitments.
With 33 needed and five overs to go Smith was run-out by a brilliant piece of fielding by bowler Neil Hancock.
Justin Yau called Smith for a leg-bye, Devon keeper Sandy Allen hurled a wayward through towards the bowler’s end, where a diving Hancock deflected it on to the stumps.
Umpire Roger Tolchard, the former Leicestershire and England player, standing at that end said he had never seen a piece of fielding like it during 50-odd years in the adult game.
Having got so close, the U21s weren’t going to abandon then chase and kept chipping away at the total with double-figure scores from Yau and Joe Thompson.
Thompson was run out for 11 as the U21s reached the final over from Hancock needing five to win. At two off two balls Yau was run out going for a bye by a prone Richard Foan in the slips.
Toby Ingham padded away the final delivery for a leg-bye and the tie.
Earlier, Mark Gilmour (pictured) had been the U21s leading bowler with three for 18 while Devon were stumbling from 86 for three when Dawson got out to 127 for seven.
Tail-enders Will Murray (23no) and Ian Bishop (20) put on 31 to make the score more respectable.
Devon 179 (R Dawson 44, W Murray 23no; M Gilmour 3-18, C Metters 2-33), Devon U21s 179-8 (S Smith 67, A Buzza 32; N Hancock 2-21, W Murray 2-17). Match tied.
