By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
INJURY hit Devon crashed out of the National Counties Cup at the quarter-final stage following a seven-wicket defeat by Dorset.
Seam bowler Calum Haggett and spinner Matt Golding arrived at North Perrott CC nursing ankle injuries sustained the previous day that dealt Devon several blows in one go.
Neither Haggett or Golding was fit to bowl, which limited Devon’s attacking options, and both had mobility issues on the field and when they batted.
Dave Tall, the Devon team manager, said it would be wrong to blame either player for the result of the game. But their injuries helped tip it in Dorset’s favour.
“For us it was an opportunity missed as we won an important toss, but failed to bat our overs and that potentially cost us,” said Tall.
“Another 30-40 runs when we batted – and a better effort in the field – and we would have had a good chance of winning.
“We were slow between the wickets at times when we batted and not great at all in the field.
“With the exception of Dan Goodey and Zak Bess in his first spell, we did not bowl enough good balls in the right areas that asked questions of the Dorset batsmen.
“In the field there were times when we were leaking runs – and two or three dropped catches definitely did not help.”
Haggett and Golding had to play as batsmen, but because they could not bowl compromises had to be made.
“That determined selections which probably were not the right ones for the conditions,” said Tall.
Devon were all out for 203 in the 43rd of their 50 overs having run into trouble against Dorset paceman Ollie Breckon (5-33). He picked-off Matt Thompson and Sam Read in his first spell then Adam Small Ed Middleton and Fahad Sabir in his second.
Golding made a top score of 62 and Haggett was next best on 32.
Dorset opener Olie Soames led the Leopards’ run chance with a workmanlike 99. By the time he was third out the target was nine to win with more than 12 overs to get it.
Six balls later Sam Young had reached 62 not out and Dorset were through to the last four.
Dorset will be away to Cumbria in the semi-finals of the competition.
Devon 203 (M C Golding 62, C J Haggett 32, S O Read 23; O Breckon 5-33), Dorset 204-3 (O C Soames 99, S J Young 62no). Dorset bt Devon by 7 wkts.
