Dan Fogerty - three wickets for Devon Lions at Exeter

COACH Tim Western believes Devon Lions’ 92-run defeat by Gloucestershire Academy is part of the learning curve for the side.

The Academy side were all out for 246 – Matt Skeemer and Dan Fogerty bagging three wickets each – which should have been in Devon’s reach.

Devon laboured to 154 all out in reply, Toby Codd (31) making the top score. 

Said Western: “The game provided a positive and valuable learning experience for the Devon Lions’ players against a strong Gloucestershire Academy team.

“The standard was a step-up from the games so far this season, which was exactly what we wanted.

“Gloucestershire went off like a train with Miles Ayres hitting 63 off just 34 balls. Matt Skeemer, Toby Codd and Dan Fogerty did really well to turn their innings on its head reducing them to 131 for 7.

“Two good partnerships from their lower order took the score up to 246 but that was only because we did not take the chances that we presented to us. “

Western said inexperience had something to do with Devon’s demise.

“We lost wickets steadily and in pairs, which prevented the run chase getting going,” said Western.

“A good partnership of 48 between Toby Codd and Tom Simmons made the final score more respectable. but we still had 15 overs spare.

“The two debutants in Charlie Barriball and Sam Read would have benefitted from the experience and showed signs of being able to play at this level.

Warwickshire in two week’s time (Sunday 14 July) at Sidmouth will provide a stiffer task again but I know that our emerging players are relishing the opportunity to test themselves again.”

Gloucs Academy 246 all out (M Ayres 63, D Ahmed 31, A Lewis 42, J Worgan 45, M Skeemer 3-39, D Fogerty 3-35, M Petherbridge 2-35) beat Devon Lions 154 all out (T Codd 31, J Worgan 2-27, H Saleem 2-14, W Naish 2-19, O Price 2-45) by 92 runs.

The Devon Lions before the game against Gloucestershire Academy at Exeter. Back (left to right): Oli Whitton (S&C lead), Joel Murphy (coach), Dan Fogerty, Charlie Barriball, Tom Simmons, Ben Beaumont, Abraham Kopparambil, Sam Read, Peter Langford (Scorer), Tim Western (coach). Front: Rory Thomas, Toby Codd, George Allen (captain), Matt Skeemer, Matt Petherbridge, James Degg