DEVON CRICKET LEAGUE 2025 - ROUND 8

1ST XI

The 1st XI took on Thorverton CC 1st XI at the Rec with Josh Hunt making his comeback for the 1st XI and Japanese Under 19 international Leon Mehlig making his debut for the club.

Thorverton won the toss and asked T&K to have a bat.

After just 12.1 overs, T&K were in serious trouble at 57 for 6 (Evo was starting to wonder he could do his Ground Hop Challenge himself) thanks to Ben Slaviero (3 for 38) and George Daldorph (3 for 36).  Some of the carnage was caught on camera by Conrad Sutcliffe and will appear later.  At 14:30 with the score on 113 for 9 going out before was a certainty but what happened over the next hour proves there is no certainly no certainty in life, Harry Baxendale (even without Suzie watching on) scored 55.  However, providing T&K with a defendable total wouldn’t have been possible without no 11 batter, Ritesh Debhade who finished undefeated on 21 off 70 balls (more balls then batters no 1 to 6 faced combined).  T&K were finally all out for 186 with just 2 overs remaining of the allocation at 15:36.

Thorverton got off to a fast start – Dan Robbins was trapped LBW by Harry Baxendale for 37 with the score on 60 after just 7.5 overs.  After that it became the Luke Vukusic, a Croatian international’s show with an undefeated 77, supported until virtually the end by Thoverton’s actual overseas, Shane Yelverton with 45.  No T&K took more than 1 wicket and Thoverton won with 9.3 overs and 7 wickets in hand.

After the match there was an interesting occurrence.  For the first time in living memory the umpires didn’t bring the stumps in.  Just another job for Evo!

Next up for the 1st XI is a return to Aaron Printers Cup action this Thursday – home to Bovey Tracey CC 2nd XI.  The 1st XI then return to DCL next weekend away to Hatherleigh CC 1st XI – the Home of the Best DCL Teas!

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 1st XI                   186 all out (48 overs)

H Bazendale                                                              55

Extras                                                                          34 

G Daldorph                                                                3-36

B Slaviero                                                                    3-38

Thorverton CC 1st XI                                               189 for 3 (40.3 overs)

L Vukusic                                                                    77 not out

S Yelverton                                                                45

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

2ND XI

The 2nd XI made the short trip to take on Babbacombe CC 1st XI – the “Battle of the Westerns’” was fairly quiet with neither grandson, giving grandad Ian (umpire) or grandma Sandra (scorer) that much to do.

T&K won the toss and elected to field.

Opening up for Babbacombe was Marcus Thompson, father of, who went onto top score with 55.  Paul Sutherland in the middle order contributed 45 as in the lower middle order with 43 did Henry Stubbs.  The wickets were shared around with Towkir Chowdhury and Anthony Nadar both taking 2 a piece though.  Babbacombe finished on 204 for 7.

In reply there were several cameos by the T&K batters.  However leading the chase from the front was skipper Ryan Hanauer with 43 supported by Faiz Ebrahim with 35.  Unfortunately, T&K fell 11 runs short of what would have been a vital win – alarm bells must now be starting rung with some urgency but in the words of Yazz, “the only way is up.”  As for Babbacombe bowlers the best was Dan Western with 2 for 24 (no he didn’t get younger brother out).

Next up for the 2nd XI in their relegation fight next weekend will be a home fixture against Plymouth CC 2nd XI who are skippered by James Toms formerly of this parish.

Babbacombe CC 1st XI                                          204 for 7 (45 overs)

M Thompson                                                            55

P Sutherland                                                            45

H Stubbs                                                                   43

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 2nd XI              193 for 9 (45 overs)

R Hanauer                                                                 43

F Ebrahim                                                                  35

Babbacombe CC 1st XI (19 pts) beat Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 2nd XI (8 pts) by 11 runs.

3RD XI

The 3rd XI hosted Cheriton Fitzpaine CC 1st XI.  It ended in defeat but currently only very potted details are available.  A note to the Chair and stand in skipper, this needs to be resolved by 22:00 on Monday night.

Next up for the 3rd XI is a nice long trip next weekend to take on North Molton CC 1st XI.

4TH XI

The 4th XI headed out to the Teign Estuary to take on Stokeinteignhead CC 2nd XI.  In the side to block up a place in the field was Matt “oh my knee” McCann.  However, this enabled him to play alongside his son Seth on his debut in open age cricket – from all accounts he did his parents proud.  (By some quirk of fate the ground witnessed all three of the Bakers’ play together for the first time for Torquay CC.)

T&K won the toss and elected to field.

Skipper, Ollie Smith, trapped Ginhoy Joseph, LBW, for a golden duck with just the 5th ball of the match.  However, that was as good as it was going to get in a runs feast for Stokeinteignhead with skipper, Roger Putman leading the way with an undefeated 79.  Putman was supported by Siby Mathews with 56, Shinto Kunnathara Kuriakose with 42 and Rajesh Thundupurayidathil with 30.  Even on one leg, Matt McCann, starred with the ball for T&K with 4 for 43.  However, James Trenchard’s figures of 2 for 40 bowling at the death don’t do him justice.  In the end, Stokeinteignhead amassed a mammoth 286 for 9 in their 40 overs.  Remarkably though just over the other side of the estuary, Kenn CC 2nd had amassed 360 for 3 in 40 overs.

Sadly in reply T&K fell well short by 181 runs.  Only loan players Balakrishnan Bhaskaran with 34 and Sachin Joy with 28 made any serious contributions.  Young Seth McCann was 2 not out at the end though having faced 11 balls (5 more than his dad).  T&Ks innings was all over in 31 overs with the best of the Stokeinteignhead .bowlers being Nomy Paul with 3 for 14.

Next up for the 4th XI is hosting Teignmouth and Shaldon CC 3rd XI next weekend fresh from their even larger mauling by Kenn CC 2nd XI.

Stokeinteignhead CC 2nd XI                                286 for 9 (40 overs)

R Putman                                                                   79 not out

S Mathews                                                                56

S Kuriakose                                                              42

R Thunupurayidathil                                              30

M McCann                                                                 4-43

Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 4th XI               105 all out (31 overs)

B Bhaskaran                                                            34

S Joy                                                                          28

N Paul                                                                        3-14

Stokeinteignhead CC 2nd XI (20 pts) beat Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 4th XI (6 pts) by 181 runs

Player of the Day

TBC once details of 3rd XI are available.

Spectator Watch

The Rec was graced by the presence of an extremely rare visitor, the master blaster from the 1990s, Phil Bradford, whose father Bruce was also on the ground – not sure the last time they watched any cricket together!  It would be wrong though not to mention young Freddie Hunt who was watching dad Josh on his 1st XI comeback.  After the match, Freddie helped Evo get in the fielding discs – Josh offered him a £1 a disc!