By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

HAT-tricks in any form of cricket are a rarity and to take two in the same game is almost unheard of.

So step forward Bovey Tracey fast bowler Hugo Whitlock, who destroyed Cullompton in the space of 11 balls, during which he performed the hat-trick twice AND claimed four wickets in the same over!

Cullompton, who hosted Bovey in a Premier Central game at Landspeed Meadow, were four for one at the start of the third over of the game and five for nine after Whitlock’s wicket-taking burst.

The last pair of Cully batsmen, Adrian Pullin and Paul Rendall, managed to get the score up to 18 before Ryan Bougourd claimed the final wicket.

Whitlock finished with figures of seven wickets taken for six runs conceded and Bougourd had two more, also for six runs.

The one that got away was a run-out executed by a sharp throw from mid-off by Bovey skipper Toby Codd.

Whitlock said when he claimed his first wicket thanks to a catch at point by Abraham Kopparambil he had no idea he would take three more wickets in the same over.

“It was just nice to be out there playing some competitive cricket in a league format at a nice ground and on a decent pitch,” said Whitlock.

“As the ball seemed to be swinging a lot I tried to bowl straight and full as fast as I could.

“The first wicket of the first hat-trick was with a ball that swung and hit the top of off-stump. I was particularly pleased with that one.

“Number two hit the batsman on the pad before hitting the stumps and the third just swung in too much.”

Whitlock said his second hat-trick comprised two bowleds when the ball swung and left-hander James Vincent lbw.

“The left-hander went to leave the ball but it seemed to move after passing his front leg and hit him on the back pad right in front,” said Whitlock.

Bovey needed just three overs to clinch victory by nine wickets, although they did lose opener Taylor Ingham-Hill first ball along the way.

Whitlock said while it was nice to become a history maker, the result was just as important as his personal achievement.

“Because we did not play in the first week it was good to get maximum points and get our average up,” said Whitlock.

“Now we have to try to win the rest of our games and make it to the play-offs.

“Games like this come along every now and again and it is one I will never forget.

“You have to put it in its place as an anomaly, write it off as a good day out and remember the next game won’t be anything like it.”

Codd, the Bovey Tracey captain, heaped praise on Whitlock and had some plaudits for Bougourd too.

“Hugo and Ryan were both outstanding,” said Codd.

“Hugo in particular bowled with great pace and skill.

“I didn't envy the Cullompton batsmen. In fact I suspect not many of our lads would have fancied facing him! That spell would've been too good for most batsmen around the county.”

Jason Parr, the Cullompton captain, said he had never before experienced anything like the going-over Whitlock administered to his side

“I have played in some batting collapses over the years, but never seen anything as brutal before,” said Parr

“Whitlock is obviously a quality bowler on the top of his game. He bowled with good pace and movement and repeatedly hit the top of off stump to destroy our whole side in literally the space of two overs. 

“I knew it was going to be a tough game, but that wasn't exactly how I pictured it going.

“I am pretty disappointed at how poor he made us look, but hats off to a fantastic spell of bowling on what was a pretty bizarre Saturday afternoon. We'll regroup and go again.”

Premier Division hat-tricks are rarely achieved. If the record books are accurate there have only been two in the last eight seasons: North Devon’s Adrian Isherwood against Bovey last season and Sidmouth’s Scott Barlow, who went one better and took four in a row against Exmouth in 2013.

Two hat-tricks in the same Devon League match is almost unheard of, but not quite. One was recorded in an E Division West game between Dartington & Totnes and Chelston back in 2012.

The bowler was Josh Thomas, then a 15-year-old schoolboy in Totnes, who performed the hat-trick twice in the space of 14 balls.

“We actually know each other quite well as Josh was in the same band as my brother Robin and has played some Sunday cricket with me at Harberton in the past,” said Whitlock.

Talk about a small world.