Exeter hold on under pressure to win nail-biter with Bovey by two runs

Tom Richardson - runs for Exeter

EXETER defeated Bovey Tracey by just two runs in a nail-gnawing finish on the Recreation Ground.

Somerset’s Ben Green (57) showed he was fit again after injury by sharing a stand of 105 for the third wicket with Tom Richardson in Exeter’s total of 203 for eight.

Richardson, in at 13 for two after a double strike by Bovey pacer Hugo Whitlock (2-28) was finally out for 66 having been involved in stands worth 158 with the middle order.

Brian Chari (3-33) had wickets in the latter overs and there were a couple for Bovey skipper Toby Codd.

A stand of 75 between Chari (45) and Taylor Ingham-Hill (61) got the Bovey pursuit up and running.

Chari went first to Dominic Tuohey (2-37), but Ingham-Hill stayed until he was fourth out on 123.

Bit by bit Ashley Causey (24), Lewis Hammett (19) and Codd (20no) chipped away at the deficit. From time to time Ed Middleton (3-37) or Alec Hollifield (2-26) would take a wicket.

Five overs out Bovey needed 23 to win with Codd and Causey the not outers and three wickets in hand.

That came down to seven off two with one wicket left and four off the final over from Josh Arendse, who bowled Ryan Bougourd fourth ball to win it.

Victory leaves Exeter comfortable in mid-table, 28 points clear of relegation danger.

Bovey, who have now lost five on the trot are only thee points clear of the second relegation place.

Skipper Codd said he had no doubts this was a game to be marked in the column reserved for games that got away.

“We bowled and fielded really well to keep Exeter to a total we thought we should chase,” said Codd.

“Then our batting let us down again with some weak dismissals. 

“It was a game we should have won from start to finish and it was a really disappointing result. 

“On the plus side it was great to see Taylor Ingham-Hill bat the way he did in the run chase. He's a great talent and we can't wait to see him improve and mature more as a cricketer.”