AN Exeter Invitation XI gave Somerset 2nd XI a run for their money in a Friday night T20 friendly.
Somerset have close playing links to Exeter in both directions. Clubmen Ben Green Ollie Sale, Dom Bess and Tom Lammonby are all part of the 2nd XI set-up at Taunton – and Alfonso Thomas and Alex Barrow play league cricket for Exeter.
When an invitation was sent to Somerset to send a side down for a game to celebrate the opening of the new £800,000 pavilion on the County Ground at Exeter, it was quickly accepted.
A crowd of a around 400 turned out to watch Barrow top score for Somerset with 39 off 24 balls – four sixes, two fours – in their total of 161 for seven.
Exeter, who included Sale and Green, but not the injured Lammonby or Bess, who was with England under-19s, replied with 153 for seven.
“It was a brilliant night for the club,” said Exeter captain Miles Lenygon.
“It was nice to play with some guys we have been playing against over the years and good to see Barrow bat well against us.
“It was also good to see us get very close on the chase.”
Somerset lost Adam Hose and Tim Rouse cheaply, one to Green the other to Zak Bess, but got a move on as Sam Underdown (24) and Barrow put on 41 for the third wicket.
After a burst of wicket-taking instigated by Matt Golding – two wickets and a run-out – Fin Trenouth (35) and Louis Shaw hoisted 58 for the seventh wicket
Trenouth was run out off the last ball.
Happiest bowler of the night would have been Golding, whose two for 12 in three overs impressed.
Robin Ferrn, who keeps wicket in Exeter 2nd XI, had three catches and ran out Trenouth.
Rob Holman, the head of sport at Kings Hall in Taunton, opened for Exeter and made 40 in even time. Lenygon (17) and Golding (12) kept the board ticking over.
Sale thumped 31 off 20 balls in an attempt to get Exeter up with the asking rate.
Twenty-six off the last two overs was almost within reach until Liam Redrup (3-30) dismissed Sale and after that Exeter slowed.
