DEVON CRICKET LEAGUE 2025 - ROUND 17

1ST XI

The 1st XI set off to take on Thoverton CC 1st XI with safety insight, ironically the old Torquay 1st XI opened their pre-season campaign in the never to be forgotten 2015 season against Thoverton!

Prior to the match the Head of the Fine’s Committee, so not the usual suspect, had to heavily fine himself for forgetting his kit – the Thoverton players jokingly said they were going to fine him as well!

Not for the first time this T&K lost the toss and were inserted by Thoverton.

With Josh Thompson falling cheaply (scoring less runs then his dad, Marcus, did for Babbacombe CC 1st XI against the 2nd XI), T&Ks innings was rather sedate.  Nathan Roux in his final innings for the club this season scored 40 off 82 balls.  Next highest scorer was extras with 30 as T&K were all out for 161 in 47 overs.  The best of the Thoverton bowlers was Dan Robbins, a naval officer who sunk 4 of the T&K batters for 43 runs, including T&Ks “anchor” Tim Western in the first over after drinks.  Robbins later was also on a hat trick removing Chris Kelmere and Bobby Western, Mustavi Emdad survived the next two balls before coming another wicket of Robbins.

In reply Harry “dodgy burger” Baxendale (3 for 40) put early pressure on Thoverton as with help from the other “Spinning Harry” reduced them to 55 for 3 – combining to remove Dan Robbins for 32.  When Harry Passenger got Shane Yelverton out for 33, T &K were just one wicket away from absolute safety.  However, George Daldorph fresh from his Devon Lions appearance had other ideas finishing on 46 not out in just 31 balls.  Thoverton achieving the win in just 28 overs with 5 wickets in hand and ironically at exactly the same time as T&K had beaten Plympton CC 1st the previous week, to guarantee their highst ever placing in the DCL.

Evo was not best pleased after the match when he received extremely negative criticism / comments from the umpires about the body language (and worse) of the T&K fielders – something which needs to be addressed as a priority.

So the final weekend of the season sees the 1st XI host champions elect Hatherleigh CC 1st XI needing just 1 point to make absolute certain of their A Division status for 2026 with Hatherleigh needing just 5 to achieve their goal of promotion.

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 1st XI                   161 all out (47 overs)

N Roux                                                                       40

Extras                                                                          30

D Robbins                                                                  4-43

Thoverton CC 1st Xi                                                164 for 5 (28 overs)

G Daldorph                                                                46 not out

D Robbins                                                                  32

H Baxendale                                                             3-40

Thoverton CC 1st XI (18 pts) beat Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 1st XI (5 pts) by 5 wickets

2ND XI

The 2nd XI played host to Babbacombe CC 1st XI with a serious lack of involvement from the Western family – just Dan donning his whites for Babbacombe.  On a serious note this raises not for the first time this season a club of this “standing” not providing an umpire, especially for a home match!  This needs to be seriously addressed over the winter.

T&K won the toss and elected for field.

Babbacombe got off to a good start, 77 for 1, with Marcus Thompson, dad of, scoring 30 and Rob Redding scoring 33.  However it soon became the Rossin show for T&K with dad Matt taking 4 for 35 and son Seb taking 2 for 18.  Matt claiming the wicket of a certain Daniel Western for 21 as well as an undertaker in the form of Seb Loram also for 21.  Babbacombe were all out for 144 in 40.2 overs.

In reply, T&K made short work of the run chase, achieving it in just 24.3 overs for the loss of just 3 wickets.  Tobias Delahunty top scored with 66 not out.  Delahunty was joined at the end by super veteran, Mike Pugh, who during his nomadic years played for Babbacombe – Pugh was 16 not out.  No Babbacombe bowler took more than 1 wicket.

The 2nd XI finish with a trip next weekend away to promotion elect, Plymouth CC 2nd XI, with a 3rd place finish still possible.

Babbacombe CC 1st XI                                            144 all out (40. 2 overs)

R Redding                                                                   33

M Thompson                                                              30

M Rossin                                                                     4-35

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 2nd XI                147 for 3 (24.3 overs)

T Delahunty                                                               66 not out

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 2nd XI (20 pts) beat Babbacombe CC 1st XI (4 pts) by 7 wickets

3RD XI

The 3rd XI travelled to Cheriton Fitzpaine CC 1st XI in “The Winner Takes It All” match with an immigrant from Cornwall helping out in the form of the chair’s brother – what will Nigel Farage say!

T&K won the toss and elected to field.

The Cheriton Fitzpaine innings was built around 56 by their wicketkeeper Jeremy Tricks and 42 not out by Jacob Cole.  However, not for the first time this season, “Mr Extras” scored 39 including a criminal 33 wides – bowlers in the nets please!  Cheriton Fitzpaine finished on 229 for 7 in their 40 overs with the wickets being shared around by the T&K bowlers, 2 each for Leigh Scarf (including a caught and bowled not forgetting a catch in the field as well) and Mark Wilson

The T&K reply got off to a steady start with Steve Waters scoring 42 and Andy Redpath scoring 30.  However, apart from David Pearson at the end with 22 not out, “Mr Extras” with 26 was the only other real contributory and T&K finished on 152 for 9 in their 40 overs thus losing the crunch match by 77 runs.  The best of the Cheriton Fitzpaine bowlers was Andrew Dale with 3 for 30.

The scenario for the last weekend of the season now is the 3rd XI must play host to the potential champions, North Molton CC 1st XI, and win, while hoping North Devon CC 3rd XI beat Cheriton Fitzpaine CC 1st XI.  Let’s hope in the Spirit of Cricket both matches are online. 

Cheriton Fitzpaine CC 1st XI                                   229 for 7 (40 overs)

J Tricks                                                                        56

J Cole                                                                          42 not out

Extras                                                                          39

M Wilson                                                                    2-38

L Scarff                                                                       2-46

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 3rd XI                   152 for 9 (40 overs)

S Waters                                                                     42

A Redpath                                                                  30

A Dale                                                                         3-30

Cheriton Fitzpaine CC 1st XI (19 pts) beat Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 3rd XI (6 pts) by 77 runs

4TH XI

The 4th XI had an enforced day off, not through a lack of players but a lack of a ground to host Stokeinteignhead CC 2nd XI.  Unfortunately despite having given the visitors notice they were unable to agree to playing, the match on Sunday, so, 8 points each.

Last up for the 4th XI in their first season in the DCL is a trip along the coast to take on Teignmouth and Shaldon CC 3rd XI.

Player of the Day

It has to be Matt Rossin.

Spectator Watch