EXMOUTH captain Bob Dawson believes Dan Pyle second Premier ton of the season is proof he is improving all the time as a top-quality batsman.
Left-hander Pyle rapped 135 in Exmouth’s 50-over total of 323 for eight against North Devon on the Maer Ground.
Dawson and David Lye with three wickets each then got stubborn North Devon all out for 238 with more than six overs to go.
Pyle wasn’t the only Exmouth batter to stand out – far from it. Openers Sandy Allen (34) and Callum French put on 54 to get the ball rolling. French, who joined Exmouth from North Devon, kept going to reach 94 in a stand of 205 for the second wicket with Pyle.
Wicket taking was hard work, although Rikki Kelly (3-58) and Jack Popham (3-68) gave it a go.
It was the way Pyle went about getting his runs that impressed Dawson, who ten years with Gloucestershire more than qualify him to give an opinion.
“Dan has always been a talented hitter of the ball, but he didn’t hit this hundred he scored it,” said Dawson.
“He has scored two hundreds and a 50-odd in the last four games and batted beautifully for the hundred against North Devon.
“The way he is scoring his runs shows how much he has improved as a batsman this season.”
North Devon never looked like getting the runs – three hours and 14 minutes in the field had taken their toll – but made life difficult for Exmouth when they batted.
Ben Howe (83) and Adrian Isherwood (48) held the middle order together while Lye and Dawson were picking batsmen off every now and again.
The job was finished off by Harrison Folland, who took the last two wickets to fall.”
Exmouth are fourth in the latest table, 24 points behind leaders Heathcoat who beat them two weeks ago.
There are enough points still to be won for Exmouth to make up lost ground, but Dawson said that probably won’t be enough.
“Since we lost to Sidmouth and Heathcoat we are the chasers now and need the clubs above us to lose,” said Dawson.
Matt Westaway, the North Devon captain, said his side were batted out of the game.
“Dan Pyle and Callum French both batted really and got them up to a very competitive total,” said Westaway.
“You don't loose many games when you have 300-odd on the board and it again proved to be the case.
“Losing Dan Bowser in the first over was a big blow to us, although Ben Howe batted beautifully for his 80, which was a positive for us in a largely disappointing afternoon.”
