DEVON CRICKET LEAGUE 2026 - ROUND 7
1ST XI
The 1st XI travelled up to the Knightshayes Estate to taken on Heathcoat CC 1st Xi. It was a historic day for those who met at The Rec – the last time for a league match, cars could meet at the Sea End before the new Cark Parking Policy goes live.
Heathcoat CC are still unfortunately still recovering from the terrible fire which destroyed their pavilion and where relegated from the Premier Division – a club still in shock.
On a total serious note, Evo ascertained in a pre-match discussion with Heathcoat’s chair, only one could were bothered last winter to check what scoring facilities would be available in the unprecedented circumstances – no guesses needed which club!
Heathcoat won the toss and asked TKCC to have a bat - a costly decision as the match ball got damaged within the first 5 overs so had to be replaced by a new one, thanks to a 4 by Ed Smout Cooper off the bowling of Freddie Bucknell – the cost of match balls will be referred to again later. There was a serious outbreak of fifty avoidance by the TKCC batters – Josh Thompson (48), Ben Pomare (47) and Chris Kelmere (46). However, there was the interesting case of Harry Passenger who scored 34. But should it have been 52 as Harry Baxendale scored 18 whilst wearing one of Passenger’s shirts. Let’s just say Evo wasn’t amused, Nor, was he with the apparent number swop by Josh Thompson. (Fines are being considered.) The best of the Heathcoat bowlers with 3 for 33 was James Oxley-Gregson who will start on a hat trick next match. TKCC were all out for 279.
In reply, Heathcoat were soon in trouble at 19 for 2 as it soon became the Kazi Szymanski show, Szymanski ending up with 5 for 43. A ransom note has now been received for £28 for the match ball especially as the opportunity of have a spare with just 26.4 overs use is extremely rare.
Heathcoat collapsed to 118 all out with Captain Passenger steering his side to the win trapping Fin Stoneman LBW for 18. The best of the Heathcoat batter’s having been Joe Parkinson with 30.
Next up for the 1st XI is a Devon T20 Cup match, tomorrow (Sunday 14th) away to the reigning champions, Exmouth CC 1st XI, under the leadership of Ben Pomare and Ed Smout-Cooper as unfortunately all the “Spin Triplets” are unavailable. lucky someone had the foresight to give Ed Smout Cooper the necessary permissions on Play Cricket to mark the umpires – odds on he won’t have to be reminded to do it. It will be the club’s first visit to The Maer post-COVID. The 1st XI then return to action in the DCL next weekend away to Cullompton CC 1st XI which could mean a Magical Mystery Tour if the match is at their new ground.
Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 1st XI 279 all out (49.6 overs)
J Thompson 48
B Pomare 47
C Kelmere 46
J Oxeley-Gregson 3-33
Heathcoat CC 1st XI 118 all out (26.4 overs)
J Parkinson 30
K Szymanski 5-43
Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 1st XI (20 pts) beat Heathcoat CC 1st XI (7 pts) by 161 Runs
2ND XI
The 2nd XI played host to their counterparts from Ipplepen CC under the leadership of Tim Western.
The day started with a panic message on WhatsApp to Evo as Kinghtshayes, “Are there any spare Match Balls in the Scorebox?” As Evo heard nothing after his response, “Ryan has them all” he can only assume one was located (plus some spare used ones). This though demonstrated the need for the official captain and their nominated deputy to sort such matches before the day of the match.
TKCC won the toss elected to field. Ipplepen were soon in trouble thanks to Beau Rider removing both Jeff Heath and Adam Peters extremely cheaply. The top scoring batter for Ipplepen was Sam Hennessy with 32. However, he was outscored by Extras (36) – the bulk of which came from malfunctioning radars. Down the order though, Marcus Green formerly of this parish chipped in with 25 as did Matt Beasant also formerly of this parish with 17. The best of the TKCC bowlers was Bobby Western with 3 for 22 as Ipplepen were 146 all out in 42.4 overs.
TKCC collapsed to 15 for 3. However, Tobias Delahunty (65 not out) and Faiz Ebrahim (45) soon stopped the alarm bells. When Faiz Ebrahim was out it was left to Mike Pugh to chip in with 20 not out as TKCC won at a canter in just 25.4 overs. Jack Edworthy was the best of the Ipplepen bowlers with 2 for 14.
Next up for the 2nd XI next weekend is hosting one of this year’s defeated Brockman Cup semi-finalists, Abbotskerswell CC 2nd XI.
Ipplepen CC 2nd XI 146 all out (42.4 overs)
Extras 36
S Hennessey 32
B Western 3-22
Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 2nd XI 147 for 4 (25.4 overs)
T Delahunty 65 not out
F Ebrahim 45
J Edworthy 2-14
Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 2nd XI (20 pts) beat Ipplepen CC 2nd XI (5 pts) by 6 Wickets
3RD XI
The 3rd XI travelled out to Stover School to take on Abbostskerswell CC 3rd Xi.
TKCC won the toss and elected to field and had it not been for radar issues, Abbotskerswell wouldn’t have made 40! In the end they were all out for just 62 in only 20.5 overs with opener Ben Morrish the only batter to reach double figures (10) as young Obaid Wahedi taking 6 for 18.
Despite losing Badal Patel and Mark Wilson both to Lewis Bradley (2 for 22) cheaply, TKCC won at an absolute canter in just 15 overs thanks to skipper Mike Etherington (27 not out) and Matt Rossin (14 not out).
Next up for the 3rd XI next weekend is a trip to take on Upottery CC 3rd XI on their club’s 2nd pitch.
Abbotskerswell CC 3rd XI 62 all out (20.5 overs)
Extras 27
O Wahedi 6-18
Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 3rd XI 66 for 2 (15 overs)
M Etherington 27 not out
L Bradley 2-22
Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 3rd XI (20 pts) beat Abbotskerswell CC 3rd XI (2 pts) by 8 Wickets
4TH XI
The 4th XI under the leadership of Stephen Jones played host to Ipplepen CC 4th XI.
Ipplepen won the toss and elected to bat, and thanks to Adrian Toomey (65), Steve Harris (44 not out) , John Clarke (35 not out) and good old Mr Extras (44), Ipplepen amassed 224 for 5 in their 40 overs. However, there is finally a cricketer in the McCann household, with young Seth taking 2 for 39.
In reply whilst Andy Redpath was the at the crease there was hope for TKCC but when he was out for 79 the innings just fell apart with the exception of Leigh Scarff with 29. TKCC were all out for 182 in 38.5 overs with Steve Harris and Adrian Toomey both thaking 3 wickets each for Ipplepen.
A special thank you must go to George Backholer, the second member of the family from Babbacombe CC to play on loan this season. It still begs the question why week after week we can’t get 44 of our own players wanting to commit to playing.
Time for 4th XI to re-group as next weekend is one of their blank weekends.
Ipplepen CC 4th XI 224 for 5 (40 overs)
A Toomey 65
S Harris 44 not out
Extras 44
J Clarke 35 not out
S McCann 2-39
Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 4th XI 182 all out (38.5 overs)
A Redpath 79
Extras 38
L Scarff 29
S Harris 3-18
A Toomey 3-35
Ipplepen CC 4th XI (20 pts) beat Torquay and Kingskerswell CC 4th XI (6 pts) by 42 Runs
Player of the Day
Well, the clear winner is Obaid Wahedi especially with Kazi Szymanski picking up at least one black mark – asking his grandad to pick his kit up from the Pavilion on Friday night.
Spectator Watch
Well there appears to be a new camp in town, “Camp Smout Cooper.”