Paignton v Tavistock | Final: Exeter v Paignton
HEATHCOAT gave double-chasers Exeter a run for their money before conceding a 12-run defeat to them in the last-four of the Tiflex Devon Twenty Cup.
Heathcoat arrived at Cornwood CC on Sunday for finals day as definite underdogs against Exeter, who are top of the next Division up from Heathcoat and gunning for a Premier Division league and Devon Cup double.
Seb Linnitt, the Devon batsman currently having game time for Worcestershire 2nd XI, made 85 not off 59 balls for Exeter in their hefty total of 173 for seven.
Opener Oli Gribble thwacked 42 off 19 balls – five fours, three sixes – while sharing an opening stand of 72 with Linnitt.
Heathcoat got the brake on mid-innings when Exeter lost four batters for 10 runs getting from 108 to 118 – Finn Stoneman (2-55) in the thick of the dismissals with two wickets and a run out – but Linnitt was still there and he upped the run rate in the final five overs.
Tom Hatton’s bowling figures of two for 22 stood out in Heathcoat’s side of the scorebook.
Josh Nott snaffled opener Hatton in the first over of Heathcoat’s chase, but Dan Butler (56) and Dylan Penberthy-Hutchings (31) took the game to Exeter at 10 runs an over.
Will Furniss (4-26) separated Penberthy-Hutchings from Butler, which led to a Heathcoat slowdown in the middle overs.
Butler was finally seventh out on 135 with exactly four overs to go. Twenty-six to win from what was left in the dressing room proved just a few too many for Heathcoat, who were 161 for seven when time ran out.
Jamie Drew, the Heathcoat captain, said the team had plenty to be proud of.
“Exeter are one of the best teams in the county and there are lots of positives to take from running them so close,” said Drew.
“It was most of the team’s first finals day and a good experience for them.
“Exeter’s quality showed and congratulations to them for going on to win it.”
Exeter (194-6) defeated Paignton (148-9) by 46 runs in the final. Paignton’s route to the final was via a five-wicket win over Tavistock in the other semi.
