Harry Everett reports on the H Division Central climax to the 2023 season and the rare feat of a century in fewer than 40 overs, with a little help from Stephen Jones live at the scene:
Cullompton 4ths v Teignmouth & Shaldon 3rds at Plymtree cc 2nd September 2023
TSCC 3rds won the toss and elected to field. The policy of introducing young players to adult cricket alongside seasoned veterans has been beginning to pay dividends for Teignmouth 3rds especially in the bowling department. The opening bowling pair of Bobby Murfin (4 for 25) and Khaya Legodi (3 for 18) belied their age to cause several problems for the Cullompton batters.
Led by Paul Godfrey (38) the Cullompton innings started slowly but steadily but was given extra impetus around the middle of the innings when Joseph Joseph (41) and Richard Stevenson (22) found runs from anything pitched down leg side being swept for boundaries on what was otherwise a slow outfield.
Dan O’Connell contributed with an 8 over spell (2 for 23) which included an impressive diving caught and bowled of the Cullompton captain Ted Banton. Cullompton finished on 150 all out after 34.4 overs.
Teignmouth got off to a shaky start losing a wicket in the first over, but then John Crocker anchored the innings with a resolute 27 off 99 balls. When he was eventually out there was a mini collapse with three wickets all falling cheaply until captain and wicketkeeper Glynn Ballman joined number three Dan O’Connell (DoC) to see Teignmouth home.
DoC scored 100 not out off 117 balls hitting 8 fours and 4 sixes, the last of which won the game and got his century in style in a tremendous match winning effort. No one bar Crocker and O’Connell reached three individual runs for T&SCC.
Max Coombes made his adult cricket debut for Cullompton and tidily kept wicket in a game that demonstrates there is plenty of young talent coming through in the lower Devon divisions.
