LONG-time champs in waiting Heathcoat defeated Exeter by 11 runs in an on-off-on again match that had wider implications than just deciding who won the league title.
Exeter told Heathcoat on Friday afternoon that they were pulling out of the game due to a clutch of Covid cases at the club, a decision that had ramifications for a number of other clubs.
Hatherleigh, Exmouth and Cornwood all had a stake in the Heathcoat-Exeter game as the result would influence whether they stayed up or went down.
At the other end of the table Sandford had a slender chance of piping Heathcoat, but needed Exeter to win at Knightshayes for that to happen as well as defeating Cornwood themselves.
League managers got involved at an early stage and, with so much riding on the game, persuaded Exeter to honour the fixture.
Victory confirmed Heathcoat as Premier Division champions, although had the game not gone ahead they would have been top dogs anyway thanks to average points. Defeat consiged Exeter to relegation alongside Exmouth.
Exeter may have had a makeshift side on parade but they gave Heathcoat a real run for their money.
Heathcoat were an unimpressive 67 for four at one stage – Pete Randerson (24) having the only score of note – and were grateful to Simon Sobczak (44), Jamie Drew (47) and Tom Hatton (31) for reaching a total of 198 for nine.
Miserly bowling from Exeter’s Devon duo Ed Middleton and Sam Read, along with former county all-rounder Mark Gribble, stopped bat dominating ball.
Exeter were scrapping for survival when they batted and it showed as all the top six contributed to reaching 125 for five. Dom Tuohey (32) and Fin Hill (31) made the best of the scores.
It all started going wrong for Exeter against the bowling of Shea Gribben (2-34) and Jack Menheneott (2-33) as 142 for five became 157 for nine. Game over… or was it?
Last pair Gribble (20) and Tor Ziegler-Evans (13) kept going and going to bring the target in reach.
Thirteen to win from the last over was the final target. Gribble went second ball and it really was game over.
Pete Randerson, Heathcoat’s title-winning captain, said claiming the title by winning a tough and tense game was totally appropriate in a league cricket environment,
“I don't think the league got it wrong by getting the game on as Exeter competed the whole day and could very easily have won,” said Randerson.
“Exeter were very good and pushed us all the way and to get over the line and win made it another special day for us.”
Heathcoat have had Sandford nipping at their heels through the second half of the season. Randerson said their title rivals could have no complaints.
“I’m just glad the team who played the best cricket throughout the season finished top of the league at the end,” said Randerson.
He added: “We got some work to do behind the scenes this winter and be ready for another campaign in May.”
