Devon Cricket Board - Devon give Gloucestershire II run for money

Devon give Gloucestershire II run for money

A BATTLING 82 from opener James Burke wasn’t quite enough to prevent Devon Lions going down by 28 runs in a 50-over friendly against Gloucestershire 2nd XI at Sidmouth.
The Lions – Devon’s Development XI - bowled Gloucestershire out for 195 with an over to go, which was a better score than it looked on a ground still recovering from the recent deluge.
Devon spinner Matt Golding picked up three wickets for 37 runs and there were three in his second spell for rangy seamer Matt Kidd (3-34).
Catch of the day by some distance was a diving effort by captain Matt Thompson, who through himself at a savage drive from Christian Purchase to scoop the ball up before it hit the turf at mid-off.
Purchase, the son of former Cornwall player Barry Purchase, made a brisk 75 in the corresponding game last season so Devon were pleased to get him out for six.
Christian Herring made a functional 47 off 53 balls with just two boundaries before he was last man out to Golding.
Devon needed a solid start to be in with a chance, so losing opener Luke Bess fourth ball and Pete Randerson them Thompson ins successive ball on 19 didn’t help.
Burke put on 49 with Golding, 37 with Jack Dart (27) and 44 with Kidd as Devon carried on chasing. He brought up his 50 by depositing Miles Reynolds on to the beach for six.
When Kidd got out at 164 for nine to Craig Miles (3-27) the end was only three runs away.
Lunch report

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