Devon Cricket Board - Bovey skipper not bothered by Plymouth defeat

Bovey skipper not bothered by Plymouth defeat

PREMIER DIVISION
BOVEY Tracey skipper Peter Bradley claimed he wasn’t too worried about losing by four wickets at Plymouth in the only Premier game played.
Table-toppers Bovey were held to 110 for nine in the 30-overs-each game, a better score than it looked in the conditions.
The city side had a bit of a wobble at 22 for three in reply – and had Chris Barr been caught in the gully third ball instead of dropped the pressure would have been on.
Barr went on to make 25 of the next 30 runs scored and after he went John Bryant (36no) and George Stephenson (22no) steered Plymouth home.
Bovey stay top of the table, but their lead has been trimmed to two points.
Bradley said Bovey had enough opportunities to win the game that they didn’t take, but hadn’t suffered too badly by losing.
“We dropped four chances – I put down two of them – had we taken them it could have been a different story,” said Bradley.
“It is fair to say we had the worst of the conditions and perhaps we should not have played? In an ordinary summer we probably would not have done.
“Having said that, I thought 110 was a reasonable total in the conditions. Had we taken our catches – Barr second ball, Stephenson on one – it might have been.
“If we hadn’t played we would have got four points more than we did. No one else played, we are still top and in the grand scheme of things losing hasn’t cost us that much.”
Plymouth captain Callum Whittaker accepted luck had favoured Plymouth but added that was only part of the story.
“It was a big toss to win as it meant Bovey got by far the worst of the conditions, batting on a wet on with a slow outfield,” said Whittaker.
”We still needed to do the job with the ball and all of the lads bowled superbly! Sam Stein and Rob Bennett have been outstanding all season with the new ball
“Backed up bt Pasi Mawalage and the spinners, we kept Bovey to a reasonable total on a tough deck!
“We batted with discipline and despite a few scares got home on a pitch which had improved throughout the day!
“We had a bit of luck with some dropped catches but you need a bit of luck sometimes!
“We were on the wrong end of a game like this against Torquay, but we both wanted to play knowing everyone else was off. It's he risk you take I suppose.”
Barr (3-18) was Plymouth’s leading wicket taker and among them was the third-ball dismissal of big-hitter and former Devon captain Neil Hancock.
Lewis Hammett made a top score of 40 – Andy Birkett (2-14) got him out at 74 for five – and the only other player in double figures was Aren de Young (16).
With Rob Bennett, James Toms and Andy Birkett all in and out cheaply, Plymouth had some work to do.
Barr and Bryant put on 30, leaving Stephenson and Bryant to knock off the rest.
“We batted with discipline and despite a few scares got home on a pitch which improved throughout the day.”

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