Heathcoat and Exeter clash in basement battle

HEATHCOAT go into the basement clash with Exeter feeling a bit more perky after winning for the first time in four matches.

Last Saturday’s win over Paignton got Heathcoat going again and opened up a 21-point gap between them and the bottom two.

Win on Saturday and Heathcoat are up to mid-table. Lose and Exeter will such them back into the danger area they are trying to get out of themselves.

Although Paignton were beaten by 71 runs – Dylan Penberthy setting them up with 91 -  Heathcoat vice-captain Toby Lochead sees room for improvement among the positives

“Dylan showed last week that someone in the top three batting the majority of the innings can allow our attacking mindset of the batsman to get us to a good total.

“We will need to bowl better and field better, however I'm confident we can kick start our season and continue our winning ways.”

With Lee Dixon and Matt Hague back in contention for the first team, Lochead anticipates having being at full strength ‘against a side that has many potential match winners’.

One player who won’t be featuring for Heathcoat is former 1st XI captain Chris Small, who made a double-ton in the 2nd XI against Plymstock last Saturday.

Aussie Small’s eligibility for 1st XI cricket is being checked out by the league following his return to the UK after a two-year absence.

Exeter 3rd XI will be spared further punishment this Saturday in the 2nd XI competition as Small is currently holidaying in Italy.

Exeter will have their third captain in as many games as Miles Lenygon is on holiday for a second week and Jon Tipper is injured. Rob Holman will deputise against Heathcoat.

Tipper is putting the team together and needs to sort out his bowling attack.

He won’t be playing and there are doubts over the availability of spinner Dom Bess and seamer Ollie Sale.

As for the significance of the game, Tipper is relatively relaxed.

“Just because it is Heathcoat doesn’t make it any more important, “ said Tipper.

“Where we are in the table right now, we need to win as many games as possible, irrespective of the opposition.”

 


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