JAMES Horler and Ben Beaumont both cruised well past the half-century mark for Devon Lions in the six-wicket win over Somerset Player Pathway XI at Seaton.
Gabe Findlay-Gallman (87no), Ben Mason (48) and Exeter all-rounder Fin Hill (43) were the leading scorers for Somerset in a 50-over total of 285 for eight.
Felix Watson-Smyth, the University of Exeter spinner, took three Somerset wickets for 53 runs. He was the only Lions bowler to take more than one wicket.
Ed Smout-Cooper (23) and Horler (87) made the early running for Devon as they reached 186 for three in reply.
Ben Beaumont, 23 not out when Horler was third out, saw the chase to a conclusion in the 44th over during an unbroken stand of exactly 80 with Taylor Ingham-Hill (45no).
Beaumont (70) won the game with a flourish by dispatching Aryan Khanna for two successive fours
Toby Codd, who skippered the side, said it was a ‘solid’ performance in every area.
“We stuck to the task really well with the ball,” said Codd.
“The outfield was quick and it could've quickly got away from us in the last 15 overs, but we managed to pull it back nicely.
“Then the chase was just about perfect. We got off to a flyer through Eddie and Horler and didn't really look back.
“A couple of key partnerships through the middle eventually saw us home.”
Tim Western, the Lions’ director of coaching, agreed wholeheartedly with Codd’s assessment and had some compliments of his own to hand around.
“A very professional performance from the Devon Lions in which every player made an impact in the game against a young Academy side,” said Western.
“Joe Gore showed again his potential to be a successful opening bowler above club level and we are looking forward to working with him over the winter.
“Spinners Jack Ford and Felix Watson-Smyth quickly assessed the right pace to bowl and curtailed Somerset’s total.
“We batted positively from ball one with an excellent platform from Ed Smout-Cooper and James Horler, who batted with maturity and was unlucky not to go on to three figures.
“It was great to see Ben Beaumont and Taylor Ingham-Hill dominate the final part of the run chase getting over the line with six overs spare.”
Western also had a pat on the pat for Seaton CC and the work they put in to staging a successful match.
“Seaton prepared an excellent surface to play on, despite the continued drought which is affecting all pitch preparations,” said Western.
