Devon Cricket Board - End of line for North Devon in T20 cup

End of line for North Devon in T20 cup

NORTH Devon's Twenty20 adventure ended in the disappointment of losing to Bridgwater in the regional final of the national Cockspur Cup competition on run-rate.

Hosts Bridgwater, North Devon and Cornish champions St Just finished with one win each in the round robin South West final

Bridgwater took the regional play-off place on net run rate and will meet Bournemouth Sports Club today for a place in the national Finals Day at Derbyshire's County Ground in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Matt Westaway performed the hat-trick to help North Devon beat St Just by 63 runs, gaining revenge for their heavy defeat to the Cornish champions at the same stage last year.

Dan Bowser top scored with 43 as North Devon made 145 for six against St Just.

Young paceman Jamie Overton dismissed St Just dangerman David Roberts, the former Northamptonshire batsman, then Westaway got to work.

'I think it was my first hat-trick and it was nice to get it in a high-profile game like that - and against the Cornish as well,' said Westaway.

'I got the first wicket bowled and the next two batsmen played a bit late and I caught them both lbw.'

With their early order shot away, St Just were all out for 82.

It all counted for nothing though as the damage had already been done in the opening game against Bridgwater.

Having made a flying start with a half-century stand from openers Rob Gear and Neil Bettis, North Devon slumped from 61 for two after 10 overs to 90 all out.

Bridgwater captain Steve Davis was the clear man of the match, and possibly the day, after his spell of six wickets for five runs in four overs - two of them maidens - put the skids under North Devon.

Bridgwater won by six wickets with nine overs to spare and did just enough in the day's last game, losing by 12 runs to St Just, to qualify.

North Devon expected Bridgwater to beat St Just, but they bounced back with 142 for eight to keep the Instow side's hopes alive.

The Devon champions needed Bridgwater to be rolled over for a low score - and in the end their 130 for eight proved enough to go through.

Looking back at the first game, Westaway said: 'We absolutely collapsed, it was shocking really.

'We nipped out a couple early, Jamie Overton took two and I took one. We had them about 20-3 and thought we had a sniff. But it wasn't to be.

'We were very disappointed, went out in the second game, played a lot better and caught the Cornish boys on the hop.'

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