By OLLIE SMITH
LEWDOWN picked up their first win of the season in convincing fashion after a 136-run victory away to Stokeinteignhead.
After being told to bat first, Lewdown were off to a fast start. The opening stand between Sidwell Yarrow (41) and captain Keith Maynard (10) reached 50 after nine overs before Maynard was the first to fall.
Nick Smith built on the start with 26, but it was Matty Taylor who built the Lewdown total. His 49 not out was the top score of the innings, and it was much needed too, as no other Lewdown batter who came in after Taylor reached double figures.
Joby Varghese was the pick of the Stokeinteignhead bowlers, his four for 34 helped the hosts keep the score respectable. There was a wicket apiece for Joshimon Joshimon, Abymon George, Chacko John, and Ashish Jacob as visitors Lewdown finished on 172 before being all out.
The first over of the Stokeinteignhead chase was an eventful one, nine runs and a wicket, as Matt Maynard (2-16) made the first dent in the batting order.
From the other end, Nick Smith took three in his first over, including the wicket of home captain Andrew Thornton-Clarke for nought.
Ashish Jacob provided some resistance with his score of 11, but no other batter reached double figures, as Smith and Maynard never allowed Stokeinteignhead to settle.
Smith continued his torment of the hosts, dismissing five Stokeinteignhead players for ducks, as they were all out for 36. He finished with the remarkable figures of eight for 20.
Keith Maynard, the Lewdown captain, was most pleased with his team’s batting performance. “I thought we put in a great performance on a very challenging wicket. We thought 170-180 was a good score with the batting conditions.”
The batting wasn’t the only thing that pleased Maynard. “The bowling was outstanding with both openers swinging the ball, nicely challenging the batsmen.”
“It’s great for the team to get its first win, as it changes the team morale, and it’s also nice to see players are finding some form. Anything can happen this season, we just need to embrace it and push forward.”
[O] DEVON League records are notoriously hard to compare owing to the numerous changes in divisional composition and game rules over the years.
Smith’s bowling figures are a new record for the current E Division West, which has been in existence since 2018. Previous incarnations of the E Division in the days before 2nd XI’s were included have three better bowling performances: Woodland Fort’s Paul Merrifield (9-20 v Shaldon, 2006). Exwick’s Mike Burnett (8-16 v Woodland Fort, 2006) and Peter Boast of Ivybridge with eight for 17 against Lewdown in 2004.
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