Devon Cricket Board - Devon O60s report

Devon O60s report - season 2011

Last season proved to be Devon’s most successful season, as they finished third in the National Championships ahead of counties such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. The side finished with 8 victories from 10 games.
There were many highlights, the best being when Bob Eames was selected for England Over 60s against Australia at Leeds and England gaining an easy victory with Bob scoring a superb 107. During the season Bob scored nearly 600 runs for Devon in the 10 games with an average of 84 and won the Player of the Season award.
Devon had early victories the first being against Cornwall at Tavistock (with Eames & Tom Stanton both scoring 51 and the wickets shared by Stuart Munday, Graham Darke and Peter Rose) This was followed by an easy victory over Wiltshire at Exmouth by 131 runs (with mean bowlers David Gambie & Munday conceding just 16 runs off their 18 overs)
Against Gloucestershire at Sandford a good score of 249 was achieved with Eames and Brent Howard both getting over 50 and Darke taking 4 wickets. This was a fine victory as Gloucestershire are our toughest opponents. Somerset on a cold day in North Devon, resulted in a comfortable victory by 99 runs with Eames reaching 94 not out.
Devon’s one defeat in the championship was away to Gloucestershire at Bristol. After losing the toss on a wet wicket it was always going to be difficult and Devon did not perform well, losing by 7 wickets, as no-one was able to stay with Eames who finished on 64 not out.
The next two matches brought easy victories. An 8 wicket win the first, away to Cornwall, with Eames and Richard Cavendish being the run getters and Stuart Lott finishing with 4- 18. Away to Somerset our hosts were defeated by 10 wickets with Eames 92 not out and Stanton 64 not out.
The last of the group games was at Trowbridge against Wiltshire with Devon winning by 5 wickets and Cavendish scoring a swashbuckling 72.
The National Quarter Final was away to Hampshire at Hursley Park near Southampton. The hosts were restricted to 182 – 7 on a high scoring ground with Darke taking 3-37. Devon won by 5 wickets with “you know who” scoring 80 and Tom Overthrow 52.
Devon were now into the National Semi-Finals playing Cheshire at Sandford. Cheshire scored 254-5, which was a total that Devon never looked like achieving, but did well to lose by only 28 runs.
Darke, in his first full season was the pick of the bowlers, taking 19 wickets. Other notable batting performances saw both Cavendish and Overthrow score well over 200 runs each.
Grateful thanks go to Danny Daniels for umpiring and to Geoff Coish for scoring.
For 2012, Devon will be running a 2^nd XI in the 60s Championship so seniors cricket is certainly on the up.
Tom Stanton
Captain

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