BOVEY Tracey’s hopes of a third successive win were shattered when they lost by 32 runs at Exeter.
The defending champions have quietly climbed the table in recent weeks after a nightmare start to the season – beating leaders Heathcoat along the way.
Faced with improving on Exeter’s 50-over total of 302 for five, Bovey got as far as 270 for eight in reply.
As Hatherleigh and North Devon either side of them both lost too, Bovey are no worse off than they were. A win at Plymouth this Saturday would ease the pressure a little on a side only 25 points clear of the relegation spaces.
Exeter’s star man in every sense of the word was opener Rob Holman, who carried his bat for 154.
Holman and Alex Barrow (51) put on 112 for the first wicket and the total was topped up late in the day by a stand of 89 with Jamie Khan.
Bovey’s bowling figures were unspectacular, however Toby Codd’s one for 18 from 10 overs stood out on an afternoon when most when for five an over and some for a lot more.
Bovey’s batters made a decent effort of chasing six an over from the start. Opener Sean Dalliston (89) and Andy Fairbairn (55) go the score up to 178 for five.
The going rate for Exeter bowlers was between five and six an over, with one notable exception. Holman.
Holman bowled 10 overs of off-spin for figures of three for 33. Three being pro Minhaj Jalill (3), the hard-to-shift Lewis Hammett (19) and in-form Ashley Causey (17).
Skipper Codd was clear on where it all went wrong for Bovey.
“As a bowling group, we bowled too many four balls and Exeter got away from us in the last 15 overs,” said Codd.
“Dalliston and Fairbairn batted well, but we needed someone to go on and make a big score like Rob Holman. But it didn't happen.”
