Devon Cricket Board - Five-wicket Orchard has debut to remember

Five-wicket Orchard has debut to remember

IT might have been a game to forget for most people – rain stopped play on the third day - but Brixham’s Mark Orchard will always remember his Devon debut after marking it with a five-wicket haul.

Orchard was a wild-card inclusion for the final game of the season, against Shropshire at Whitchurch, having not featured in any squads all season.

A three-wicket spell playing against the Devon Lions Development XI earlier this month for the Devon League XI prompted the county selectors to have a look at Orchard at the next level up.

Orchard took five for 47 in Shropshire second innings before rain terminally stopped play on the third and final day – and six for 74 overall in the match. That’s good shooting for a debutant.

Orchard, who played in the county youth sides from U13 to U21, was beginning to think his chances of representing Devon had dimmed beyond visibility.

Now, Devon are looking at him as a potential replacement for Worcestershire-bound Charlie Morris next season.

“It is easy to feel if you play for an unfashionable club like Brixham that you are going to get overlooked,” said Orchard.

“Had anyone told me two weeks ago that I would take five wickets for Devon in a match I would have laughed out loud at them.

“I was surprised to get the opportunity to play – a determined to make the best of it.”

Brixham play their cricket in the A Division – two levels below Minor Counties – so it was quite a step up for Orchard to bowl against Shropshire.

“The big differences are the depth you are bowling against and the consistency required,” said Orchard,

“In Shrophire’s first innings we had them 35 for eight, but the number 10 batsman came in and scored 40 odd. That doesn’t happen in the A Division!

“Also, it is no good bowling four good balls then two four-balls as you will get hit.

“I have learned a lot from one game. If I want to play next season – and I do – I need to work on my fitness and also my control.”

Roger Newman, Devon’s director of cricket, said Orchard had made a highly promising debut which hinted at better things to come.

And Newman was quick to stress he was happy for Orchard to play on at Brixham without it affecting his Devon prospects.

“Mark is loyal to his club and there is nothing wrong with that,” said Newman.

“He reminds me of Chris Bradley when he first came into the side three years ago.

“It was a surprise selection for a lot of people, but we had seen something in him and with some coaching were able to bring it out.

“Now Chris is captain of the team.

“It’s not where you play that matters, but how much you want it, If you put in the work you win get your reward.”

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