Devon Cricket Board - North Devon carry off Jail Ale T20 title

North Devon carry off Jail Ale T20 title

The victorious North Devon team surround captain Robert Ayre with the Jail Ale T20 cup

NORTH Devon retained the Jail Ale Devon T20 title they won last year when they defeated Plympton by 27 runs in the final on their own ground at Instow.

Rob Gear hit 34, and Mike Hedden was not far behind on 33 not out, as North Devon made 156 for four in their 20 overs.

Matt Dart then set himself up to win the man of the match award as Plympton were held to 129 for seven in reply.

Plympton were the side North Devon defeated in last season’s final at Torquay so would have been doubly disappointed to lose again. They will wonder just how much difference it would have made had captain and former Devon all-rounder Keith Donohue been fit to play in the final.

Donohue suffered a severe hamstring strain while battering Bovey Tracey for 73 off 62 balls in the semi-final earlier in the day.

Donohue and David Wrench (21) put on 59 for the third wicket in Plympton’s total of 140 for seven.

The Bradley brothers dominated the bowling figures for Bovey: skipper Chris taking two for 10 and Pete three for 25.

Bovey lacked a lynchpin like Donohue for the rest to bat around – Chris Bradley (18) made their top score – and were all out for 108 with seven balls to go. They were 49 for four at halfway and it was clear then which way the game was going.

Donohue limped to the wicket to take figures of two for 19 and there were two wickets each for Lewis Gregory and Wrench,

North Devon breezed through their morning semi-final appointment against Bradninch embarrassingly easy, emerging 110-run winners.

Stewart Rhodes clubbed the Bradninch bowling for 83, putting on 92 with Hedden (35) as North Devon amassed 174 for six. Rhodes hit 10 fours and a six.

Pick of the Bradninch bowlers with three for 24 was Nick Dean. County spinner Gary Chappell took some stick as his four-over spell cost 49 runs for one wicket.

Bradninch, whose line-up looked below strength, were all out for 64 in reply. They struggled early at 11 for three, limped to 30 for six and only made it as far as the 17^th over.

Craig Overton was top bowler for North Devon with four for 16. Dart claimed two for 14.

North Devon got off to a 59-run start in the final with Gear (34) and Rhodes (28) posting 59.

The batting was steady with Hedden and Jamie Overton (16) all chipping in towards the final product.

Plympton struggled to keep up with the asking rate and at 83 for five after 15 overs there was only going to be one outcome.

With Lewis Gregory (29) and Ross Fareer (34) both gone, Chris Bunny batted through to make 24 not out.

North Devon will go to represent Devon in the South West finals being hosted by the Somerset Cricket Board this season. The original venue at Weston super Mare is no longer available so the event may be switched to Bridgwater.

FINALS DAY SCORECARDS

Semi-finals

North Devon 174-6 (S Rhodes 83, M Hedden 35; R Acton 2-29, N Dean 3-23), Bradninch 64 (M Jarrett 13; C Overton 4-16, M Dart 2-14). North Devon bt Bradninch by 110 runs.

Plympton 140-7 (K Donohue 73, D Wrench 21; C Bradley 2-19, P Bradley 3-25), Bovey Tracey 108 (C Bradley 19, C Carter 16, B Ayres 16; L Gregory 2-16, D Wrench 2-26, K Donohue 2-19). Plympton bt Bovey by 32 runs

Final

North Devon 156-4 (R Gear 34, S Rhodes 28, M Hedden 33no), Plympton 129-7 (L Gregory 29, R Fareer 34, C Bunny 24no; M Dart 4-18). North Devon bt Plympton by 27 runs.

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