PLYMOUTH had Exeter on the ropes but couldn’t land the knockout punch – and it cost them victory in the first game of the Tolchards Devon League Premier Division season.
Hal Kerton stroked a patient 56 off 96 balls – just two fours and two sixes – to haul Plymouth from an unimpressive 36 for four to a defendable 180 for nine.
A stand of 71 for the sixth wicket with Dan Robotham (18) was crucial for Plymouth after England under-19 star Ethan Bamber (3-24) got into the early order.
Exeter looked in complete control at 132 for three – Somerset’s Ben Green already in and out for 45 – and had Rob Holman and Sean Morris well set in stand of 57.
When Morris fell to Sam Stein (2-53) Exeter collapsed in a hurry. Faizan Riaz and Joe Hagan-Burt kept the pressure on as 132 for three became 147 for eight.
Former Devon opener Rob Holman kept going through and his 60 not out off 111 balls – five fours, no sixes – got Exeter over the line in the 47th over.
After last season’s fight to stay up, new Plymouth skipper Jon Varcoe had been hoping for a winning start.
It wasn’t the result Varcoe wanted, but it was a result he could live with.
“If we battle like that every week we'll win more than we lose,” said the Plymouth skipper.
“We started well, then lost a clump of wickets, recovered and then lost two more batsman again which stopped all momentum we'd built up.
“Hal dug us out and we did well to get to 180, although I thought we were 20 short on a good pitch.
“A poor start with the ball meant we were always chasing the game, but I felt we had a chance if we removed their four big players.
“We pulled it back massively and piled the pressure on. Rob Holman played very well to marshal his team home.”
Exeter had to cope with a six-run penalty under the league’s new slow-bowling regulations, which could have come back to haunt them.
“Luckily the six-run penalty didn't cost us as we were less than a minute behind where we needed to be,” said relieved skipper Barrow.
“It was a game where wickets fell in clumps and kept swinging in favour of each team.
“Ethan Bamber bowled well on debut. Ben green played well for his 40 and Rob Holman saw us through.”
