Tiflex Devon T20 Quarter Final Round Up | Paignton defeated reigning champs | Tavistock edge out run-fest | Wins for Heathcoat and Exeter

OLLIE SMITH REPORTING

EXMOUTH won’t have chance at a ‘three-peat’ in the Tiflex Devon T20 Cup after they lost in the quarter-finals to Paignton by 45 runs.

Luke Medlock slammed a ton from just 47 balls for the Queen’s Park outfit, he scored seven fours and 11 sixes in his knock of 108 before he was run-out by the opposition skipper James Horler.

Medlock shared a stand of 131 with Ollie Woodcock (41) after his first three partners fell for single-figure scores. Cam Kidd claimed all three on his way to four for 39. 

Two quick wickets - Woodcock and Medlock were dismissed - were an attempt to stem the flow of runs, but veteran Neil Hancock had other ideas. He needed just 15 balls to reach 36. 

There was a wicket apiece for Elijah Pyne (1-47) and Fin Marks; Marks received some credibility from the innings, he finished on one for 26, averaging three runs per over less than his peers as Paignton finished on 232 for seven.

In the second innings, Charlie Ward struck twice in the first over to remove the dangerous duo of Louis Morison and Dan Pyle for four and nought.

Kidd counterattacked the home side’s bowling; he shared a 99-run stand with James Horler (28). Kidd was dismissed for 69 from 40 with the score at 125 for four, Stephen George (2-24) took the wicket to remove him. George also claimed Horler’s wicket. 

Fin Marks and Pete Turnbull kept the runs coming with 19 and 23, however no one repeated Medlock’s first-innings antics as the overs and wickets ran out at the same time. Charlie Ward cleaned up the tail with the last two balls of the innings on his way to five for 29.

Harry Ward, Paignton’s captain highlighted the importance of Medlock’s explosiveness. “Luke produced one of the most destructive T20 innings I’ve seen, putting the ball to all parts of the ground. He was well supported by Ollie Woodcock and Neil Hancock as we posted an imposing 230.

“We knew we’d have to be on the money from the very first ball, and Charlie’s two big wickets in his opening over proved massive. Cam [Kidd] batted superbly for Exmouth and kept the game interesting, but Stephen George’s spell swung the momentum back in our favour before Charlie came back to finish the job.”

Tavistock edged out a run-fest against Sandford at Creedy Park.

James White and Elliot Hamilton (33) shared a 123-run opening partnership before it was broken in the 10th over. White was intent on hitting the ball to all parts of the field and brought up his 50 in just 15 balls, by the end of the powerplay he was sitting on 72.

None of the remaining Tavi batters scored more than Charlie Barriball’s 14, but White kept the runs flowing. His century came from 42 balls at the end of the 12th over, and White kept going for another 18 balls, he reached 139 before Jonny Handley accounted for him.

Jackson Thompson’s three-wicket flurry in the penultimate over allowed him to look back on the innings more favourably; he ended with figures of three for 30. Shaun Hawkins was next best with two for 25. The Tavistock innings crossed 200 in the 17th over, but ran out of steam as the next three overs saw only 18 runs added, as Tavi finished on 220 for eight.

Thompson led the Sandford charge, although he lost his opening partner, Tanbir Hayder, for a first-ball duck.

Thompson put on 39 with Harry Southgate (20), and a further 73 with Somerset staffer James Theedom (23) before he was out with the score at 117 for four.

Hawkins (41) and Hopkins (31) shared a stand worth 51, and some big hitting from the latter in the penultimate over left Sandford needing eight runs to win with two wickets left.

Shaun Daymond removed Ollie Knight with the first ball of the over, and two balls later it was game over as he bowled Jack James for nought.

Exeter saw off Ivybridge as they secured a finals day spot with an eight-wicket win.

Abraham Kopparambil top scored in Ivybridge’s total of 122 for nine with 30; hero of the last round, Mickey Copeland, scored 23. Exeter’s Cam Fraser claimed three wickets for 11 runs.

Farzad Safi claimed the only two Exeter wickets to fall; Zach Vukisic and Oli Gribble (40) were the players to go. 

Rebuilt

Sam Read (40no) and skipper Seb Linnitt (19no) rebuilt, the former scored significantly quicker than his captain, needing one less ball to score 28 more runs as Exeter reached their total with six overs to spare.

Heathcoat comfortably saw off Cullompton by 44 runs in the last of the quarter finals.

Joe Parkinson (57) and Jack Tucker (53) both reached 50 before they were dismissed, the pair helped Heathcoat to a total of 192 for seven. Harry Everett was the best of the Cullompton bowlers with three for 31.

Tinashe Kamunhukamwe spearheaded the Cullompton response, he scored 54 and was ably supported by Dan King (20) and Brendon Parr (39). That was as good as it got for Cullompton, however, as no one else reached double figures and they were all out for 148. Jamie Drew took three Cullompton wickets for 25 runs, and there were two each for Archie Goodrick (2-33) and Dan Pugsley (2-17).