Devon Cricket Board - Devon still have work to do on batting line-up

Devon still have work to do on batting line-up

TUESDAY, APRIL 26

QUESTION marks still remain over Devon’s batting following a 41-run defeat by Cardiff UCCE at Exmouth in the penultimate warm-up game of the season.

   The Students reached 221 for five in 40 overs – a respectable total but one that wasn’t unattainable.

   Devon were bowled out for 180 with 13 balls to go with guest player Matt Kidd from Cornwood doing a lot of the damage with a four-for-34 haul.

   At 89 for six with only David Lye of the frontline batsmen left, Devon were in danger of folding early.

   A stand of 72 between Lye (53) and Sandy Allen (32) for the seventh wicket gave Devon hope, but Lye’s demise prompted a quick collapse with the last four wickets tumbling for just 17 runs.

   Roger Newman, Devon’s director of cricket, said the size and manner of the defeat had to be put into the context of the opposition. Losing he could take, but a lesser margin would have made him happier.

   “Our last two warm-up games have been against Somerset 2^nd XI – one of the best 2^nd XI’s in the land – followed by one of the top UCCE sides,” said Newman.

   “Somerset struggled to bowl Cardiff out last week – and they gave Gloucestershire a good game as well.

   “These are sides who train under professional coaches or play every day and contain some of the best up-and-coming pros in the country. We are amateurs, and you have to remember that.

   “Having said that we were a bit below par and had we been on our normal game it would have been a lot closer.

   “A par score on that wicket – early season, slow and low – was around 200, so their 221 was above par. Our 180 all out was below par.

   “”After a couple of early wickets it became a lot harder and their third-wicket pair put on 192. It was sensible batting, but they were never really able to force the score along as we bowled pretty well. It could easily have been 240-250, which I doubt we would have got anywhere near

   “Our problem was we lost too many wickets too early again. The stand between Dave Lye and Sandy took us a bit closer, but we were still looking at 10 an over to win it and to score at that rate you have to have wickets in hand, which we didn’t.”

   The batsmen – Lye accepted as he has to work – will get a chance to hone their skills in the final friendly against a Devon League XI at Bovey Tracey on May Bank Holiday Monday.

   Kidd bowled himself into the side for that game, having taken the chance offered to him by Newman and Cardiff opposite number Kevin Lyons with both hands.

   “Kevin rang me up to say they were a bowler short and did we have a player we could loan them,” said Newman.

   “Matt bowled pretty well in a couple of our earlier warm-up games and this was a good chance to have a look at him again.

   “As he wants to go to Cardiff when he finishes at Plymouth College, it was a chance for them to have a look at him as well.

   “I first saw him in an U17 game for Devon at Exmouth last season, where he took six wickets against Hampshire.

  “I thought then he had something, and the way he bowled against Cardiff proves he has. His first three wickets were Bob Dawson, Neil Hancock and Josh Bess – all players who have scored stacks of runs for Devon in the past.

   “Matt has the makings of a first class young cricketer. If we are lucky he will be around the Devon scene for a while.”

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773