First five-wicket haul for King (pictured) in North Devon win over Torquay

Fred King on the way to a five-wicket haul against Torquay

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

FRED King claimed his first five-wicket haul for North Devon in the 30-run win over Torquay that keeps the Instow side second in the A Division table.

King followed brother Josh over from Bideford for the start of the 2019 season and has been in the first-team squad ever since.

Now Josh has headed off to Sandford to play Premiership cricket, there is the chance to bowl more frequently and Fred took the opportunity to scupper Torquay’s chasing plans with a five-for-72 return.

Jack Moore takes runs off Torquay at InstowTorquay were 113 for three pursuing 237 to win in the Sandhills when King started talking wickets. Although Tom Drake kept going to make 83, King struck at the other end to rob Torquay of their supporting cast.

A target of 102 to win from the final 10 overs with five wickets down left Torquay as second favourites a long way out.

George McEndoo (2-23) backed-up King and there was parsimonious spell of 10 overs for 21 runs from Matt Dart.

Jack Moore top scored for North Devon with 79 and was involved in a 65-run second-wicket stand with Ben Howe (43).

Tom Popham, the North Devon captain made a patient 33 in a 50-plus partnership with Moore.

By the time Moore was spun out by Chris Kelmere the score had advanced from 17 for one to 217 for five.

Kelmere (2-49) shaded the wicket-taking stats for Torquay from Sri Lankan debutant Kesh Wijerthna (2-51). Drake and Harry Baxendale both kept the run rate below four an over when they were in action.

Skipper Popham said as the pitch favoured bowlers from both sides it was down to batters to graft for their runs and Moore’s knock helped swing it North Devon’s way

“It wasn't a normal, very flat Devon pitch and we managed to reach a decent yet still gettable total,” said Popham.

“It wasn't a wicket where boundaries were easy to come by, as shown by the scores and strike rates in the Devon game Sunday.

“Our spinners – George McEndoo and Mart Dart – bowled superbly in tandem and Fred King put in another very impressive middle-overs spell, a role he's executing superbly. 

“Jack Moore played a mature and well-timed innings, battled very hard, which was good to see, and picked the right balls to attack at the end.”

Fred King leading North Devon off after they had defeated Torquay