DEVON CRICKET LEAGUE 2025 - ROUND 9
1ST XI
The 1st XI travelled to the “Home of the Best Cricket Teas in Devon” AKA Hatherleigh CC to take on their 1st XI. Prior to the match there was a minutes silence for former Torquay CC player, David “Syd” Lawrence who last Sunday succumb to MND. The club would like to put formally on record their thanks to Hatherleigh CC for being so compliant and in particular Sue Tidball their Vice Chair and Evo’s colleague in the box for facilitating it. Note to the players though it would have been etiquette for all T&K players to have been in full kit for it.
Hatherleigh won the toss, a rarer occurrence then even Hazza winning it, and asked T&K to have a bat.
Just 123 minutes later in the words of Kevin Sullivan “What Just Happened” with T&K all out for 90 in just 33,2 overs. Well T&K had run into Emmerson Wood (who moved to the area last winter) who took 6 for 10. The decision to change the batting order unfortunately failed spectacularly as a result with the exception of young Rio Koyikkara who finished undefeated on 36 off 97 balls, which was virtually 50% of all the balls faced by T&K.
With the fabled Hatherleigh tea on hold, the home side went out to bat, After just one ball it was a case of are T&K going to do something special with Harry Passenger clean bowling Ryan Quick. The second over unfortunately reminded Evo of Sargent Wilson’s quote, “is it wise sir.” After that with the Two Harry’s in tandem, there was always a chance of T&Ks own Miracle of Headingley (1981 version) but sadly it wasn’t to be but Hatherleigh did lose 5 wickets in the case with Passenger taking 3 for 42 and Baxendale 2 for 31. Emmerson Wood capped a fine day with a quick fire undefeated 20 off just 11 balls.
After the match with Harry Passenger clearly suffering from shell shock as a result of the performance. It was left to Luke Glasson to respond on behalf of T&K to Hatherleigh captain’s traditional short speech at tea,
With the alarm bells now clearly ringing, next weekend’s home match against Bridestowe and Belstone CC 1st XI – a “Winner Takes It All” relegation battle with the loser being in “Dire Straits.”
Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 1st XI 90 all out (33.2 overs)
R Koyikkara 36 not out
E Wood 6-10
Hatherleigh CC 1st XI 93 for 5 (17.3 overs)
S Ghosh 26
H Passenger 3-42
Hatherleigh CC 1st XI (18 pts) beat Torquay and Kingskerswell CC (3 pts) by 5 Wickets
2ND XI
The 2nd XI played host to Plymouth CC 2nd XI who were being captained by James Toms formerly of this parish on a track that was slightly greener then it should have been. No 2nd XI players took responsibility to cover the track after the Brockman Cup Final!
Just a week after the McCann’s double act in the 4th XI. This week it was the turn of the Ebrahim's with dad Faiz and son Ethan. Is “Ethan” the most popular first name amongst T&K players? Note to skipper though – retrospective DCL registrations are a pain in the arse!
T&K won the toss and elected to bat. Most batters got started but no one went onto make a big score with Faiz Ebrahim and Ryan Hanauer both scoring 29. However, they were outscored by extras with 35 and wides alone with 28 nearly outscored them. T&K were all out for 186 in just 38.2 overs, the, oh so regular cardinal sin of not batting the overs out. It was no fault of young Ethan Ebrahim who was 3 not out at the end having batted for 19 minutes and faced 13 balls. The best of the Plymouth bowlers was Stephen Skew with 3 for 41.
In reply no Plymouth batter really got going and by the time virtually the entire 1st XI came back to watch, Plymouth were already 5 wickets down, This however enabled them to watch James Toms (23) and his son George (17) bat together. There was a couple of lusty blows by Azizurahman Rahmanzai, so with the boot on the other foot for a change Evo sadly had an “unsuccessful” ball search but least he tried – Neil Stanlake or his partner in crime Nathan Roux might have better luck when they clear the bank / stream next. The star with the ball for T&K was Towkir Chowdhury with 4 for 10. Whilst young Ethan Ebrahim was wicketless on debut, Fahid Ali was run out while he was bowling by Tobias Delahunty to secure the 10th Plymouth wicket - a vital win for the 2nd XI.
Special mention must be made of our very own Phil Sturman who “guested” as scorer for Plymouth.
Next up for the 2nd XI is a trip on the Moors next weekend to take on Chagford CC 1st XI on a ground which once hosted a competitive Devon CCC 1 day match.
Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 2nd XI 186 all out (38.2 overs)
Extras 35
F Ebrahim 29
R Hanauer 29
S Skew 3-41
Plymouth CC 2nd XI 128 all out (42.2 overs)
Extras 30
J Toms 23
T Chowdhury 4-10
Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 2nd XI (19 pts) beat Plymouth CC 2nd XI (8 pts) by 58 runs
3RD XI
The 3rd XI set off on the long trip to take on North Molton CC 1st XI back under the leadership of the rather tanned Mike Etherington.
North Molton won the toss and elected to bat.
With the help from the crippling amount of Extras (48) primarily due to malfunctioning bowler’s radars it soon became a run feast for North Molton. Matthew Boundy (77), Henry Dunn (64 not out) and James Tapp (50) doing most the damage. Richard Saunter (2 for 38) and Matt Rossin (2 for 39) were the best of the T&K bowlers – one of them would have had much better figures but for the dreaded wides. North Molton amassed the rather large score of 271 for 8 in just 40 overs.
In reply for T&K it was simply the Mike Etherington show (86) with some support from Ady Zimunu (29). However, with no other batters coming to the show, T&K lost by 98 runs but the positive is they batted their overs out. Henry Dunn starred with the ball for North Molton with 4 for 23.
Next up for the 3rd XI next weekend is hosting Exwick CC 2nd XI.
North Molton CC 1st XI 271 for 8 (40 overs)
M Boundy 77
H Dunn 64 not out
J Tapp 50
Extras 48
R Saunter 2-38
M Rossin 2-39
Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 3rd XI 173 for 9 (40 overs)
M Etherington 86
A Zimunu 29
H Dunn 4-23
North Molton CC 1st XI (19 pts) beat Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 3rd XI (8 pts) by 98 runs
4TH XI
The 4th XI went on a short boat trip along the coast and up the River Teign to take on Teignmouth and Shaldon CC 3rd XI.
T&S won the toss and elected to bat.
Kevin Jones formerly of C&K was the best of the batters with 55 before being trapped LBW by Matt “oh my knee” McCann (2 for 24). However, he was outscored by Extras with 60 including 36 wides – no need to say anymore. Gary Abraham also contributed 43. The best of the T&K bowlers was Ollie Smith with 3 for 34 as T&K amassed 222 for 7 in 40 overs – hope the umpires were hopping on one leg at the end!
In reply, T&K were extremely thankful to Extras all 54 of them as the best batter was Matt McCann with just 21. The best of the T&S bowlers was Tyler Wilkins with 4 for 11 as T&K were 168 all out in just 36.5 overs.
The 4th XI have a weekend off next weekend to regroup before playing host to Kenn CC 2nd the following weekend.
Teignmouth and Shaldon CC 3rd XI 222 for 7 (40 overs)
Extras 60
K Jones 55
G Abraham 43
O Smith 3-34
Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 4th XI 168 all out (36.5 overs)
Extras 54
M McCann 21
T Wilkins 4-11
Teignmouth and Shaldon CC 3rd XI (20 pts) beat Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 4th XI (7 pts) by 54 runs
Player of the Day
It has to go to Mike Etherington.
Spectator Watch
Up at Hatherleigh, Evo is pleased to report there was no near misses when it comes to the tipping of spectators out of wheelchairs this year. Evo also appreciated Grandma Di took Grandson Lincoln out the way during the minute’s silence.
As for the 2nd XI it would be wrong not to mention Mike Hunt who was in residence to see his favourite player, James Toms, even though he was skippering the opposition!