Pyle and Harding put skids under Sussex in National Over-60s' Vase final

Devon captain Neil Matthews (right) receiving the Vase from Len Attard, the SW Counties National administrator

Scroll to foot of page for team picture

FRAN Pyle and Paul Harding put Devon Over-60s 2ndXI on course for a 66-run win over Sussex in the final of the National Over-60s’ Vase at Cirencester.

Devon made 165 for six in their 45 overs – Andy Rose making 71 not out going in at first wicket down.

Pyle and Harding got stuck into the Sussex top order with two wickets each as the hosts slumped to 66 for five in reply.

Fran Pyle - four wickets in the win ove SussexThere was no way back for Sussex after that as they slid to 99 all out with more than three overs to go.

Neil Matthews, Devon’s winning captain, said: “Andy Rose batted really well to get us up to a par score for that wicket.

“We knew the Sussex top four score most of their runs and were confident if we got them cheaply we were in with a shout.

“Fran and Paul, along with Neil Price, did just that and we carried on squeezing Sussex until we got them all out.”

Pete Shephard (29) and Tom Stanton (32) got Devon away to a 54-run start then Rose batted through to the end. The Abbotskerswell veteran hit six fours and a six from the 77 balls he faced.

Sussex lost wickets in clumps at either end of their innings with Pyle (4-12) having the first and final word.

Sussex’s 23 for none became 29 for three at one end and the last four wickets went for just seven runs at the end. 

Harding bowled unchanged for three-for-21 return. Pyle took four for 12 in two spells. His last two wickets came in consecutive deliveries.

Devon 165-6 (A Rose 71, T Stanton 32, P Shephard 29; H Johnson 3-20), Sussex 99 (B Page 23; F Pyle 4-12, K P Harding 3-21, N Price 2-14). Devon bt Sussex by 66 runs.

The Over-60s’ success was some compensation for the 137-run drubbing suffered by the Over-50s’ 2ndXI in the Southern Counties Plate final played at Trowbridge.

Middlesex B were the opposition and they posted 217 for nine in their full 45 overs. Danny Richards top scored with 66.

Devon captain Ian Hayter tried seven bowlers, none of whom took more than two wickets. Pick of the returns was off-spinner James Ford with two for 23 off nine overs.

Devon plunged to 26 for six in reply as Matt Walshe (2-7) and Steve Blyghton (3-13) cut down the front line batters.

Joel Murphy dug in for patient 40 after going in at 22 for five, but no one else made more than six as Devon were dismissed for 80. 

Devon’s winning team after they defeated Sussex to lift the National Over-60s’ Vase. Left to right: Pete Gascoigne, Dillon Attwood, Dave Hart, Pete Shephard, Andy Rose, Paul Harding, Neil Matthews, Steve Preston, Dave Amery, Neil Price, Tom Stanton, Fran Pyle, Steve Harris, Ian Western