Devon Cricket Board - Devon run out of ammo

Devon run out of ammo

DEVON v SOMERSET – JULY 3

DEVON found they didn’t have the firepower to stay competitive long enough as Somerset 2^nd XI swept them aside by 73 runs at Budleigh Salterton yesterday.

Somerset had plenty on their plate at 69 for four having struggled early on against Charlie Morris and in particular Adam Parker.

Opener Chris Jones wouldn’t be budged though and went on to make 149 in Somerset’s 50-over total of 287 for eight.

When Devon batted they reached 99 for one with openers Matt Thompson (35) and Barney Huxtable (38) both getting on with it after acclimatising to the professionals’ line and length.

Losing four wickets for 20 runs ended the game as a contest, although Devon did rustle up a respectable 214 for nine in reply before their overs ran out.

Parker pressed his claims for a place in the senior side with a tight and bright 27 down the order at number nine.

Morris, a fast-bowling all-rounder who is Devon based but a Somerset youth player due to his schooling, added 31 not-out to his four wickets which won’t have done his future prospects any harm.

Roger Newman, Devon’s director of cricket, said the game reminded him of an FA Cup clash between a professional side and a non-league outfit.

“For the first 15 overs we were up and at ‘em and at 69 for four Somerset knew they were in a game,” said Newman.

“What we couldn’t do was sustain it for all 50 overs – and of course they had talented young man who batted almost all the way through for 149.

“It was the same when we batted. A reasonable start, but we could not sustain it.

“We allowed Somerset to bowl to us rather than trying to impose ourselves on them by attempting to knock the bowlers off their line.

“Still one of the reasons for playing games like this is to learn and from that point of view it was a success.”

Somerset had a lot to be grateful to Jones for as he glued the innings together in partnership with Calum Haggett.

Their stand of 171 pushed the score along to 240 for five and featured some big hitting from Smith. There were 14 fours and seven sixes in his knock, which went from 0-50 in 71 balls, 50-100 in 51 and lasted 139 in total.

Smith perished as he had prospered going for the big hit down the ground to bring up 150. Captain Matt Thompson positioned himself in front of the sightscreen to take the catch and present Charlie Morris with the second of his four victims.

Morris cashed in twice more during the last five overs when the slog was on, bowling Craig Overton for 10 and trapping Adam Dibble lbw for a single Haggett finished unbeaten on 59.

Somerset 2^nd XI 287-8 (C R Jones 149, C J Haggett 59no; C A Morris 4-59, A J Parker 2-30), Devon 214-9 (B G Huxtable 38, M W Thompson 35, C A Morris 31no, A J Parker 27; S A Mount 4-21). Somerset bt Devon by 73 runs.

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