HOLDERS Exeter crashed out of the Dev on Senior Cup the first time they tried to defend it when they lost by 27 runs at Exmouth.
Exmouth were bowled out for 194 in the last of their 40 overs — a total that looked under threat when Exeter were 155 for six in reply.
But Exeter didn’t have the stamina to see the chase through to a c on clusi on and were bowled out for 167 with two overs to go.
Exmouth were made to work hard for their runs by Alvin Pollard (3-43) and Adam Gribble (2-31) and at 125 for seven it was Exeter who were in the driving seat.
James Burke (30) and Chris Travers (24) had put on 48 for the fourth wicket, but otherwise it was just dribs and drabs.
The key innings came from youngster Robbie Debenham, who went in a seventh wicket down and batted through to the end, wringing out another 69 runs from the tail-enders, of which he made 35.
Little did Exmouth know at the time just how important that knock of Debenham’s was going to be.
Mark Woodman struck to remove Exeter dangerman Marshall Hood for 13, then Burke and Cars on Lederle put the pressure on with miserly spells.
Aar on Williams did make 32 and as l on g as Rob Holman hung around Exeter had a chance. When Holman was run out for 45, the holders’ grip on the trophy loosened.
Exeter’s last four wickets went down for just 12 runs as Exmouth booked a sec on d round tie with Plympt on on June 8.
A Divisi on outfit Bovey Tracey sprung a minor upset when they put out Premier side Paignt on by 20 runs.
Andrew Kingd on top scored with 60 for his current club as Bovey put 223 for seven on the board.
Paignt on were going well in reply until James Huds on was dismissed for 70 around the halfway stage, then slowed alarmingly on the way to being bowled out for 203.
Kingd on and Peter Bradley (31) got Bovey off to a 66-run start. Chris Bradley (23) kept the board ticking over then Ali Pasha (65no) fired four fours and the same number of sixes as the scoring accelerated towards the end.
The usually frugal Stephen George didn’t have a great afterno on by his standards as he went for 73 from his eight overs.
Paignt on set off in hot pursuit with Huds on and Sim on Edwards (40) putting on 76 after Tim Ward had been and g on e for 35.
At 166 for five with Huds on there and 20 overs left, it was Paignt on ’s to lose. Huds on was caught on the boundary by Ben Elphick off the bowling of Charlie Carter (3-47) going for the big hoick and that proved crucial.
Pasha wormed through the lower order on his way to three for 36 to put Bovey into the next round, where they will be away to Axminster.
TORQUAY proved too str on g for Tavistock in a on e-sided Dev on Senior Cup clash on the Recreati on Ground.
Tavvy, who have yet to win in the Dev on League this seas on , were short of bowlers to such an extent they were forced to draft in 64-year-old president Stuart Munday, who restricts himself to the odd social game in his cricketing dotage.
Munday was by no means embarrassed by his performance as his five overs cost a respectable 32 runs.
What Tavistock could not do was get the brake on Torquay, who chased down 190 to win with almost five overs in hand and eight wickets to spare.
Ian Gray (71) top scored for Tavvy and shared in their two main stands. The first was worth 48 with Gareth Tidball and the sec on d of 64 with Harry Gearing, who made 24. Skipper Steve Luffman chipped in with 21.
The bottom half of the Tavvy order didn’t pose too many problems for Torquay bowlers Joe Thomps on (5-27) and Usman Malvi (2-34) as the last five wickets went down for 18 runs.
A sec on d-wicket stand of 115 between Tim Western (85no) and Matt Thomps on (41) put Torquay on the road to victory.
When Thomps on went at 117, Malvi came out to join Western and put bat to ball in brutal fashi on .
South African pacer Steve Dembitzer was clobbered for 18 in on e over as Malvi hared to 49 not out in just 31 balls.
Tavistock 189 (I Gray 71, H Gearing 24; J Thomps on 5-27, U Malvi 2-34), Torquay 192-2 (T Western 85no, U Malvi 49no, M Thomps on 41). Torquay bt Tavistock by 8 wkts.
Bovey Tracey 223-7 (P Bradley 31, A Kingd on 60, C Bradley 23, A Pasha 65no; B Da Silva 3-34), Paignt on 203 (J Huds on 70, T Ward 35, S Edwards 40; A Pasha 3-36, C Carter 3-47). Bovey Tracey bt Paignt on by 20 runs.
Exmouth 194 (R Debenham 35, J Burke 30, C Travers 24, A Pollard 3-43, A Gribble 2-31, A Williams 2-16), Exeter 167 (A Williams 32, R Holman 45, M Wilkins on 34no; C Lederle 3-20, A Buzza 3-50). Exmouth bt Exeter by 27 runs.