Devon Cricket Board - Plymouth slip in title race

Plymouth slip in title race

PLYMOUTH failed the first test of their Premier Division title credentials when they lost by 80 runs to visiting Sidmouth.
The city side had negotiated the first five games of the season undefeated to sit third in the table behind Exmouth and Sidmouth going into the Mount Wise clash.
Plymouth remain third, but are now 22 points behind new leaders Sidmouth, who took advantage of Exmouth losing to Exeter to snatch top spot for themselves.
Sidmouth totaled 240 for nine in their 50 overs with Will Sobczak top scoring on 60.
It wasn’t Sobczak who hurt Plymouth though, but Scott Barlow with a rapidfire 58 coming in at number eight.
Plymouth’s bowlers had done a decent containing job on Sidmouth, led by Dave Burke (1-32), Matt Hooper (2-36) and Gionne Kopman (3-37).
Josh Bess made a steady 30 at the top of the order, and Sobczak 60 off 118 balls, but when Barlow went in with 10 overs to go Sidmouth were 154 for six.
Barlow’s 58 off 29 balls – which included six sixes and two fours – really got Sidmouth motoring. He signaled his intent by hitting the first ball from Sam Stein over the pavilion!
Sobczak finally went on 202 – caught at mid-on off Koopman – but Barlow carried on flogging the bowling until he was last man out in the penultimate over.
Plymouth were solid rather than spectacular as they set off in pursuit, reaching 70 for two in 18 overs with James Toms and Koopman the men out.
Toms went lbw to Bess for nine while Koopman chanced his arm against Liam Lewis’ on Ben Stein’s call and was run out for 29.
The game got away from Plymouth in the time it took them to slip from 93 for four, when Stein went, to 99 for six.
Will Murray got Stein and Dan Babula followed up with Jake Luffman and Harry Stephenson in the space of six balls.
Steve Luffman hung around until Bess had him caught behind, then Hooper (24) and Rob Bennett (12) did what they could to salvage a batting bonus point at 150.
Lewis broke the stand by bouncing out Hooper, who was caught behind as the last three wickets fell for just nine runs.
Hooper said in the evidence of the game Sidmouth were the side to beat this season.
“It was a good game, they look like a good side,” said Hooper.
“I thought there were times when we competed well with Sidmouth, but we needed our big players to have big games.
“Sidmouth bowled well but we batted poorly. I think if you finish above Sidmouth this season you win the league.”

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