NORTH Devon’s plan to attack the spinners backfired as they plunged to a 172-run defeat against Sidmouth.
Ed Yeo, the North Devon captain, said before the game: “We will look to target Sidmouth’s spinners as I see they are their weak point.”
That was red-rag-to-a-bull stuff to Sidmouth off-spinner Charlie Miles, who showed where the weak point was by taking five North Devon wickets for 23 runs.
They weren’t easy wickets at the end either, but four of the North Devon top six and a tail-ender.
Miles seemed in reasonable form going into the game having taken four wickets in the win over Heathcoat seven days earlier.
Winning skipper Luke Bess heaped praise on Miles and his bowling colleagues.
“The bowlers were good as a unit again and Charlie found the right pace and bowled well on a wicket with assistance for the second week running,” said Bess.
Sidmouth, who were without free-scoring Josh Bess at the top of the order, made 282 for eight in 49 rain-limited overs.
Matt Cooke returned to form after a barren run with 67 and the skipper made 40.
Zak Bess had a rare failure – out third ball to Josh King (4-59) – and for a while Sidmouth were on the back foot,
Having been 135 for one before Cooke departed they slid to 141 for five then 172 for six.
The innings was revived by seventh-wicket pair Anthony Griffiths (60) and Scott Barlow (41) who put on 79.
Griffiths, a former 1st XI captain who has spent much of the this season and the last one in the 2nd XI, hit eight fours in a 66-ball stay.
North Devon started brightly with Tom Ansell (28) and Tom Popham (240 seeing off the new ball. Then it went pear-shaped in a hurry.
Miles picked off both openers, then Will Murray (3-30) accounted for Callum Hotham and Joe Kelly.
Two more for Miles – Stef James first ball and Rob Ayre – left North Devon 82 for six. Game over.
King (10) and Yeo (12) delayed the inevitable. A combination of Barlow (2-16), Miles, and Murray took the last four wickets for 12 runs.
Winning captain Bess said: “With josh not playing and Zak due a fail at some point, it was important for our batters to step.
“There was a slight wobble but we pulled through well. It's good to see Matt Cooke and Anthony Griffiths back in the runs.”
