Devon make hard work of University
DEVON made it two out of two in the warm-up phase of the season when they defeated University of Exeter by one-wicket in a 50-over game at Sidmouth.
The student side were all-out for 206 in the 45th of their overs – skipper Ben Wells crafting a top score of 75 off 70 balls.
Devon leg-spinner Ed Middleton had three wickets for 53 runs ad there were tidy spells from Jamie Stephens, Matt Golding and Sam Read.
Devon went in fits and starts from 117 for three to 158 for five and 199 for eight on their way to their target. There were lots of chipins from the middle order. The key ones came from Ben Beaumont (43), Matt Golding (33) and Sam Read (29).
When Devon dipped to 201 for nine the students could scent an unlikely win, but last pair James Horler and Stephens got them over the line with more than 11 overs to spare.
As Horler averaged more than a hundred for Exmouth in the Devon League last season, and Stephens has a Devon best of 97 made against Cornwall in 2018, it was hardly a typical last-wicket pairing. It was another close-run thing for Devon, whose opening game at Instow seven days earlier was a 13-run victory over club side Clevedon.
Dave Tall, the county club’s director of cricket, said the team made hard work of defeating the University.
“We should not have been chasing 207 – and even though we were we ought to have won more comfortably,” said Tall.
“Wells batted well for them, but once we got him out we should have put the squeeze on them.
“The University probably scored 25-30
more than the should have done. Having said that we would have settled for 207 when they were 119 for one.
“Their six and eight batters (Alex Turner, 29 and George Barlow 29) put on more than they should. Neither could play all round the wicket, but we did not test them enough with our bowling.
“The lesson from this game is when you have a side on the ropes you have to be hungry to finish them off.”
Devon’s third pre-season game is back on the Fortfield this Saturday against last season’s Premier Tier champions Sidmouth.
The annual game between the county club and the Devon League champions was a regular date on the fixture list up until 1979 and has not been played since.
Devon’s last encounter with the league champions was against Torquay and did not go according to plan.
Malcolm Kingdon took six wickets for 33 runs, and Bill Hatchett claimed three more, as Torquay dismissed Devon for a measly 83.
Gary Wallen made 23 and Hiley Edwards 25 as Torquay, whose side contained eight county players past, present or future, won by five wickets.