Christophers hoping for another opportunity to 'showcase' his talents for Devon | 'I was happy with the way I bowled and hope to get the chance to play in a few more games'

Will Christophers bowling for Devon against Somerset on his home ground at Bovey Tracey

BOVEY Tracey spin-bowler Will Christophers enhanced his county selection prospects with a tidy spell of bowling for Devon against Somerset on his home ground.

James Hildreth and Andy Unmeed both hit half-centuries as Somerset chased 182 to win with six wickets intact in Tuesday’s 50-over friendly, which was branded as a ‘showcase’ game by the England & Wales Cricket Board. Showcase games are opportunity for non-professional sides to show their First-Class cousins what they can do.Devon opener Sam Read – in and out for a brisk 11 against Somerset

For Christophers, selected for the game as the top-wicket taking spin bowler in the Tolchards Devon Cricket League, it was the chance to test himself against players he normally watches from the stands at Taunton.

“As a club cricketer you just don’t get the chance to play against First Class cricketers,” said Christophers.

“To get that chance on my home ground with a large crowd there made the experience all the more memorable.

“And what was really amazing was to watch close-up how someone like Hildreth, who has scored nearly 30,000 runs as a pro, goes about his business.

“When I bowled at Hildreth he played a reverse-sweep shot that you just could not have set a field to.

“I was happy with the way I bowled and hope to get the chance to play in a few more games.”

Christophers sent down five overs for just 22 runs given away as Devon’s spinners got the brake on after their strike bowlers had been tanked around the ground by Somerset openers Steve Davies (35) and Matt Renshaw (23). Both are former internationals.

Had ]an awkward overhead catch at backward-point gone to hand, Christophers would have had a debut wicket too.

Dave Tall, the Devon team manager, said he liked what he saw of Christophers, adding: “He has done himself no harm that’s for sure.”

James Horler, the Exmouth left-hander, top scored for Devon on 83 in their all-out total of 181. Max Waller, the former Torquay spin bowler, took four wickets for 29 runs as Devon’s lower order crumbled.

More than 500 tickets were sold in advance for the game and that figure was topped-up by several hundred cricket fans who paid at the gate.

Tall said the Bovey Tracey club worked hard to make game day a success and deserved a huge pat on the back.

“The effort put in by dozens of volunteers from Bovey Tracey Cricket Club was tremendous,” said Tall.

Devon captain Matt Skeemer bowling to Somerset batsman James Hildreth