Devon Cricket Board - Premier 2nd XI review

Premier 2nd XI review

PREMIER DIVISION - WEEK ONE

EXETER were disappointed to be forced off by bad light at Sidmouth, where they appeared to have the defending champions on the run.

   Sidmouth eventually mustered 187 all out thanks largely to a stand of 123 for the fourth wicket between Jamie Wardrop (61) and Saj Patidar (54).

   Jack Richardson pressed his claims for a first team place sooner rather than later with a seven-for-47 haul.

   Exeter were going along nicely at 120 for four – James Meredith 33 not out – when the umpires took the teams off.

   “Sidmouth haven’t lost more than a handful of games over the last three years, which is why they keep winning the division,” said Exeter skipper Richard Nelsey.

   “Jack had put us in a position where we could turn them over – and with 18 overs to go all we needed to do was bat sensibly.”

   “I never felt we would get through all the overs as the light wasn’t good and there was rain about.

   “Myself and James Meredith were out there when the umpires stopped it and we were happy to carry on as the bowling wasn’t fierce.”

   Whatever Nelsey felt would probably have been academic as the heavens dumped all over Sidmouth 10 minutes later, which would have ended the game then anyway.

RICHARD Wyatt-Haines came up with the goods for Bovey Tracey as they recovered from a nightmare start to win by 18 runs at Cornwood.

   Wyatt-Haines has slipped down the batting order to seven this season having spent most of last summer opening up.

   Bovey were glad to have Wyatt-Haines there when the were 36 for six, having been badly mauled by Andy Bees.

   Bees, who usually opens the bowling or operates at first change in the 1st XI, couldn’t travel to Alphington so stayed behind to assist Dave Tall and the 2nd XI. He took five for eight from nine overs – six of them maidens – to leave Bovey on the rack.

   Wyatt-Haines (41) and Sam Thomas (33) put on 62 for the seventh wicket, then Adam Squire (23) added another 27 for the eighth wicket as Bovey recovered to make 156 all out.

   Bovey captain James Mason then too five for 41 as Cornwood stumbled to 138 all out.

   At 60 for two with runs on the board from Robin Dart (31), Cornwood looked well placed.

   Mason reduced them almost single handed to 69 for seven and nothing Will Caulfield (25) or Dave Petherbridge could do in a stand of 30 for the ninth wicket made any difference to the outcome.

   Bees (20no) and Petherbridge put on 35 for the last wicket to delay the inevitable for a while.

   Jamie Gray (2-18) and Sam Thomas (2-25) backed Mason up in the wicket-taking stakes.

PAIGNTON eased to a 60-run win over Hatherleigh, who were bowled out for 137 chasing the home side’s 197 for eight.

   Skipper Tim Ward led from the front with 63 not out for Paignton, who were helped along by 34 by Jason Woodcock.

   Chris Smith (4-32) and Terry Farkins (3-32) did most of the damage with the ball.



THERE was an early finish at Ottermouth where Plymouth trounced Budleigh Salterton by seven wickets.

   Harry Barnes (4-11) and Jack Hughes (2-5) combined to shoot Budleigh out for 75, which Harry Stephenson (24) and Nick Read (25no) made a big hole.

NORTH Devon 2nd XI had Plympton under the cosh at Harewood House, but could not finish them off and had to settled for a draw.

   Stands of 60 between Richard Screech (30) and Warren Miller (35), and 70 by Matt Knapman (42) and Rob Clarke (44no) took North Devon to 233 for eight.

   Tim Cook (4-19) and Clarke (3-29) chipped away at the Plympton batting, reducing them to 150 for nine with an over to go.

   Plympton’s last pair blocked out for a draw.

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