Devon Cricket Board - Premier - North Devon back in business

DEFENDING champions North Devon bounced back from their defeat by Bovey Tracey with a crushing eight-wicket win at Torquay.
At full-strength North Devon’s bowling attack operates with Somerset’ Overton twins – Craig and Jamie - as well as Mashonaland and Unicorns pacer Glenn Querl – and it was just Torquay’s bad luck all three were available.
Querl took four for 16, Jamie Overton three for 21 and Craig Overton one for 19 off nine overs as Torquay limped to 119 all out in the 41^st of 44 overs.
Matt Thompson top scored with 23 and when he was forth out at 65 a combination of Joe Thompson (17) and Ben Passenger (19no) kept the bowling at bay for a while.
North Devon lost Rob Ayre to Ian Baker in the second over and Jason Hayes to the same bowler with the score in 29.
Any hopes of a fightback Torquay may have harboured were shattered as Dan Bowser (52no) and Craig Overton (50no) put on92 unbroken as North Devon cruised home with 15 overs to spare.
North Devon move up a notch from fifth to fourth while Torquay’s one-point return means they drop to one above the relegation zone.
North Devon skipper Matt Dart had only won one toss all season before arriving at Torquay and said being able to dictate the game made a massive difference.
“It was nice to be able to put Torquay in on a pitch that offered a lot to the seamers - and against our attack they were always going to struggle,” said Dart.
“Batting wise, Bowser was due some runs and had some much-needed time in the middle. Craig Overton showed us why he has turned professional.”
EXMOUTH won a thriller a Sidmouth by two wickets when Akeal Hosein hoisted a six of Sam Anderson to clinch victory with three balls to spare.
Sidmouth were all out for 205 in the last of their 50 overs – Anthony Griffiths hitting the top score of 61.
Matt Cooke made 45 of the first 64 on the board, then Josh Bess chiped in with 39 towards a stand of 69 with Griffiths for the fourth wicket.
Pick of the bowlers with three for 52 was George Greenway, although Jamie Tapper (2-27) and Trevor Anning (2-34) gave little away.
Exmouth looked dead and buried at 147 for seven after losing Andy Buzza (34) and Lawrence Greenway (12) in quick succession.
West Indian U19 star Hosein wouldn’t be moved though and in partnership with Phil Anning (19) wiped off another 38.
George Greenway was at the other end when Hosein hit Anderson out of the ground to seal victory.
Skipper Richard Baggs admitted it was heart-in-the-mouth stuff at times and he hadn’t always expected to come out on top.
“Buzza had batted beautifully, but I thought we were gonners at 147 for seven,” said Baggs.
“Akeal was outstanding, but huge credit has to go to lower order as well for sticking in there with him.”
Exmouth stay tucked in behind leaders Bovey Tracey, who have a five-point advantage.
Sidmouth drop down to fifth as North Devon went past them courtesy of an eight-wicket win at Torquay.
Skipper Will Murray said before the game it was one his side could not afford to lose if they wanted to stay in the running for the title
In the wake this defeat Murray said: “We will of course keep fighting and try to stay in contention and hope the teams above us slip up.
“It was a good game, but we were about 15 -20 runs light. Aqeel Hosein played very well - a match-winning innings.”
TIME is running out for Heathcoat to dodge the drop from the Premier Division after yet another defeat, this time by seven wickets on run rate at the hands of leaders Bovey Tracey.
Sam Smith’s 37 was one of just two double-figure scores – Tom Frankpitt’s ten was the other – as Heathcoat processed to 108 all out
A rain break forced the teams off while Bovey were batting, and meant a revised run-rate calculated target of 104 to win.
Bovey reached it with time on their hands.
Heathcoat are at home to fellow strugglers Budleigh Salterton this Saturday in a game they cannot afford to lose. Budleigh’s own position wasn’t helped by the cancellation of their game against Plymouth.
The gap between Heathcoat and safety is already 40 points – and they can’t afford it to get any wider.
Skipper Chris Small spelled out the situation in the clearest possible way before he heads off on a two-week holiday.
“If we don’t start putting complete games of cricket together and winning in the next couple of weeks, we are going to get relegated,” said Small.
Heathcoat struggled early on against Neil Hancock (3-22) and were spun out by Devon captain Chris Bradley (4-21) as they slumped from 66 for three to 91 for eight.
Bovey lost openers Pete Bradley and Lewis Hammett one after the other on 18 and Chris Bradley lbw to James Drew on 55. Hancock (53no) and Delon Mullins (12no) put on 49 unbroken to win it.
BRADNINCH skipper Gary Chappell heaped praise on batsmen James Street and Matt Golding after they clinched eight-wicket win in the derby clash with Sandford.
Sandford were all out for 129 in the 41^st over – opener Russell Discombe top scoring on 33.
Sandford didn’t get the best of starts – opener Dave Dredge was out in Dan Milligan’s first over – and George Greed didn’t detain the scorers for long either.
At 36 for three with Ryan Glass out for three – a second scalp for Ross Acton (2-23) – Sandford had a fight on their hands.
Acton, Chappell (3-20) and Milligan kept the lid on Sandford from start to finish.
Discombe, supported by Matt Theedom (19) and Ben Clements (12), stayed there until Will Squire prised him out at 89 for six.
Luke Wright (13no) and Simon Ashplant (13) kept the score limping along until the returning Milligan (3-37) knocked over the tail.
Bradninch had an early casualty of their own – Paul Tweddle bowled by Wright for a duck – but there the similarity ended.
Street (57) and Golding (56no) wiped off 123 between them, leaving Acton (6no) to see Bradninch over the line in the 27^th over.
Said Chappell: “Our bowling was tight all the way through, probably the best it has been this season.
“We have not always batted too well, but this time Street and Golding got it right. They waited for the bad ball to come along, then put it away.”
Plymouth’s Premier Division game against Budleigh Salterton was called off due to a waterlogged pitch – yet they still managed to move one place up the table./
For the six points awarded for a cancellation were five more than Torquay got for losing against North Devon, which dropped the Seasiders one place below Plymouth.