Devon Cricket Board - Exmouth back up to second

Exmouth back up to second

EXMOUTH are back up to second in the Premier Division after beating North Devon by 36 runs on the Maer.
Successive defeats by Exeter and Sidmouth had dropped the defending champions down to fourth in the table and another defeat was unthinkable if they are going to retain the title.
North Devon, who were third going into the latest round of fixtures, made life tough for Exmouth, who were labouring at 113 for five coming up to the 30-over mark.
Jamie Overton (0-20), Jack Pudney (1-39) and Tom Allin (4-53) in his first spell were tidy, but the surprise package was former Exmouth batter Max Curtis, who bowled ten tidy overs of spin for 33 runs and accounted for dangerman David Lye.
Skipper Richard Baggs (31) had the best of a modest set of scores – Sandy Allen (20) and Chris Metters (25) chipped in – before Trevor Anning injected some urgency with the bat
Anning made 75 off 77 balls with just five boundaries, sharing stands of 33 with Andrew Buzza (17), a key one of 57 with Gary Chappell (19) and another of 21 with tail-ender Lawrence Greenway.
Exmouth finished on 225 for eight, which looked a bit on the low side as North Devon set off in hot pursuit with openers Neil Bettis and Overton carting Anning and Chappell around for the first four overs.
When Overton was bowled by Chappell for 25 off 12 balls – 24 coming in boundaries – North Devon were 35 for one after four overs.
Next man in Tom Ansell went almost immediately – Anning trapped him lbw – the Bettis (29) fell to spinner Matt Coult on 59.
Coult (3-33), aided and abetted by Buzza and Chappell, stopped the North Devon middle order firing.
Only Jason Hayes (250 made much headway and by the time Rob Ayre (18) and Barney Huxtable (22) put on 44 for the seventh wicket North Devon’s chance had gone.
Jack Hockin finished unbeaten on 22 in North Devon’s total of 189 all out.
Exmouth skipper Richard Baggs said beating North Devon was the best possible response after two successive defeats.
“We still keep losing wickets when batters are set, but I am very happy to beat a very good North Devon side after our last two weeks,” said Baggs.
“Trev Anning played superbly and there some good contributions from Buzza Metters and Chappell.
“Matt Coult bowled fantastically and I was really pleased for him.”
North Devon skipper Matt Westaway said his side’s problem is the lack of a big run scorer, highlighted again at Exmouth.
“We have a few people making pretty 30s and 40s – and that;s fine when someone goes on to make 70 or 80,” said Westaway.
“Hardly anyone is though and that was why we chugged along to 189, never ever looking like we were going to win the game.”

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