Teenage openers Tyson and Windley steer North Devon to 10-wicket win at Seaton | 'For two 17-year-old lads to bat like that was a pleasure to watch' - Tom Popham

James Tyson (left) and Reuben Windley coming off the field at Seaton

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

NORTH Devon openers Tyson and Reuben Windley showed Seaton no mercy in a 10-wicket drubbing.

Seaton had been bowled out for 140 in the 48th of their 50 overs – Damian Baxter making a top score of 35 at one end while batters were coming and going for single-figure scores at the other.

Matt Hewer (23) showed some stickability at the top of the order and tail-enders Wes Holmes (15) and Joe Berry stuck around to add 31 at the end in Seaton’s best stand of the innings.

Josh Atkinson on the way to a three-wicket haul for North DevonSeamers Jack Popham (2-26) and Josh Atkinson (3-19) took out the top half of the Seaton order. Left-armer Tyson (4-30) had most of the rest.

Tyson followed up with 81 not out off 100 balls as he and Windley (51no) wiped out the deficit without mishap. It was all finished and done with more than 18 overs to spare.

North Devon stay second behind leaders Bradninch with Torquay still third. Tom Popham, the North Devon captain, said the game was a test of strength in depth for the squad and they passed it with distinction.

“It was a fantastic team performance and result considering we lost Ben Howe on Thursday then Dan Bowser and Rick Wild Friday night,” said Popham.

“After a slow start with the ball we were relentless, and gave the Seaton batters nothing easy to score from

“Jack Popham deserved more wickets than he got and he was backed up by Moore, Atkinson, King and Tyson. 

The young lads – Reuben Windley and James Tyson – were superb in the run chase and made batting look very easy. For two 17-year-old lads to bat like that was a pleasure to watch.”

Seaton stay in the bottom two for another week with Cullompton the only team below them.

Ben Morgan, the Seaton skipper, said it was a bad toss to lose on a day when there was moisture in the pitch, but that did not explain away why his side lost so badly.

“North Devon bowled well but we gave our wickets away too cheaply and did not score enough runs.

“I thought we bowled okay, but they batted superbly and didn't give us a chance.

“The most frustrating thing was that we played like that the week after our best performance of the season when we beat Budleigh Salterton.”

THE game between Torquay and Abbotskerswell was called off due to Covid regulations. Most of Abbots’ senior places were in self-isolation having been exposed to three Covid sufferers during a mid-week friendly against Chudleigh.

North Devon's Jack Popham is the centre of attention after taking a wicket in the win at Seaton