By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

HATHERLEIGH skipper Mark Lake is unlikely to play a serious game this season after suffering a bizarre injury in the 54-run warm-up defeat by North Devon.

Having waited 12 weeks to get on the field due to Covid-19 restrictions, Lake was at the helm for the visit of North Devon.

Lake was fielding near the boundary line when he dived to stop a ball going for four and broke his shoulder in the process.

Said Lake: “My season is more than likely done.

“I had a scan on Monday morning that confirmed my shoulder is broken.”

Vice-captain Rob Cockwill will lead the team in lake’s absence, starting with the Premier North opener at Sandford this Saturday.

Lake said Hatherleigh need to up their game from North Devon levels to come back from Sandford with a result.

“North Devon were a lot more up for it than we were and bowled a lot better than we did,” said Lake. 

“We will be more competitive from next week onwards.”

Jay Rothery was the only one of the top seven North Devon batters not to make it into double figures as the visitors posted 172 nine balls before their 45 overs ran out.

Opener Dan Bowser mad a brisk 42, James Tyson chipped in with 39 and Jaz Kalsi had 28.

Paul Heard took three wickets for 19 runs against one of his former clubs and Sean Letheren had three for 34.

Hatherleigh were all out for 118 with 15 balls un-bowled. Match captain Rob Cockwill made 44 off 89 balls; no one else got past 13.

Ben Howe (3-20) and Jack Moore (3-16) helped themselves to three wickets each and there were two each for Jack Popham and Matt Dart.

Left-arm spinner Dart is now fit again after missing last season due to a broken elbow and, in his own words, ‘back in love with the game’ again.

Vice-captain Howe said the game had been ‘great preparation’ for the league game against Heathcoat at Knightshayes this Saturday.

“It was great to play against a Premier Division side, one we have been grouped in the new competition, and come away with a convincing win,” said Howe.

“Dan Bowser set the tone with the bat and young James Tyson held the innings together really well. 

“Our opening bowlers – Jack Moore and Jack Popham – were superb, restricting Hatherleigh early on and this meant that Hatherleigh were chasing the game. 

“Our spinners controlled the middle overs really well, picking up wickets in regular intervals.”