DEVON T20 CUP ROUND UP JULY 2024
TIES have been played across the summer weeks at various different stages, but Harry Everett attempts to tie up some loose ends as far as the quarter-finals in Devon’s premier T20 competition, the winner of whom end up playing the best WEPL side later this summer. Bradninch doing the county particularly proud last season.
The tie of the match in Round One was a repeat of the 2022 final when your reporter was reverse hit by Eliot Acton a couple of times for six to earn Bradninch the T20 title at Plympton’s ground, where finals day was held.
Bradninch again prevailed, but this time by just three runs as Sandford finished 150-9 after 20 overs, Andrew Buzza’s new club prevailing against his old club.
Another three-run victory was played out at Plymstock as they lost to visitors Paignton, despite having former test bat Prince Masvaure in their ranks, he and skipper Tom Mitch’s mid-30s not enough to chase 119 in 20.
Elsewhere, Sidmouth beat Kilmington by 13 runs in a low-scoring affair at the Fortfield thanks to three-fers from Ben Way and Jordan Fowler.
Instow saw Jay Rothery smack 61no off 31 as the home side cruised past Heathcoat’s paltry 172-7 with 4.1 overs to spare.
Sam Harvey opened up and finished 69no off 37 balls as Bovey Tracey beat Tavistock by nine wickets.
Sixty-nine off 37 balls also came from overseas pro Jason Niemand as Exmouth defeated Thorverton by 69 runs. Ben Slaviero 3-24 at the top was the pick of the Thorvy bowling before the away side’s middle-order ran out of balls left to face.
Cullompton beat Abbotskerswell by eight wickets after Akshay Bharadwaj’s 3-26 made it a small chase for Cully openers Jason Parr (50) and Euan Tinley (30) to break the back of.
Cornwood surprisingly lost to A Division Plymouth at Oak Park, Elliott Staddon’s 33 the only individual score past 15 for the home side, Azizrahman Rahmanzai wrapping things up with 3-9 off two. Mohammad Siddiqui’s 49no was crucial as most others failed in Plymouth’s reply, Jacob Caunter’s 4-13 in vain.
Into the quarter-finals and Plymouth knocked out higher league opposition again in the shock of the round. Bradninch mustering just 86 all out despite having a nearly full-strength side. New recruit Justin Wubbeling top scoring with 33no. Richard Goldsby West’s 4-24 proving pivotal. Amazingly both Plymouth openers notched golden ducks but 30 from Rob Bennett and chip ins down the order got them over the line with four balls and two wickets to spare in another Bradninch last over finish.
Dinesh Raheja was arguably left too low down the order for Cully as his 61no off 36, taking the home side to a lowly 176 at one of the smallest grounds in the tournament, was in vain. Skipper Ansley led from the front with ball and bat, added to former skipper Lewis Hammett’s 59no, so Bovey won by seven wickets
Exmouth beat Paignton by seven wickets also, this one saw the best individual performance as Lawrence Greenway earnt the best figures of the competition yet with 6-14 off four. Exmouth’s chase finished off by Dan Pyle’s 31no.
North Devon disappointing conceded in the other tie, love for cricket dying in even the highest level T20 competition in the county?
