Runs and wickets for Moore as North Devon skipper gets 'respectable' performance he was looking for against Heathcoat

NORTH Devon skipper Jack Moore told the team he wanted to conclude a relegation season ‘in a respectable manner’ and they delivered him a 57-run win over Heathcoat.

Whatever North Devon do in their final two games, they won’t be staying up. 

Moore said before the match: “We are aware we are down but looking to finish the season strongly and in a respectable manner.”

Four teams go into the final two rounds in danger of the drop. They are Plymouth (179pts), Sidmouth (178), Sandford (176) and in particular Heathcoat (167) after this result.

North Devon opener Dan Bowser clipped 10 fours on his way to a top score of 73 in a team total of 246 for nine.

Bowser and Moore put on 104 for the third wicket – and there were a few more runs where those came from!

Moore went on to reach 69 before becoming the second of five scalps for Heathcoat’s Tom Hatton (5-65). Bowser was the first.  Reuben Windley chipped in a quick 31 before the overs ran out.

Josh Atkinson (2-39) claimed a couple of early Heathcoat wickets before Jamie Drew (45) then Jack Dart (47) got the reply moving.

Dart and Harry Southgate (47) got the chase up to 157 for five with 10 overs to go and 90 needed to win. It was a tall order made even steeper after Moore (4-48) had Dart caught behind.

Heathcoat lost their last five wickets for just 32 runs a Moore and Roshan Lakmal (2-20) picked them off.

Dylan Penberthy-Hutchings, the Heathcoat skipper, said the team largely had themselves to blame for losing the game.

“It was a really disappointing day out,” said Penberthy-Hutchings. “We let North Devon get off to a 35-run head start before we turned up. 

"We felt very much in the game at the halfway point but batted poorly with the top order all playing some brain dead shots.

“Not many positives to take from it. Two ‘must-win’ games coming up.”

Heathcoat’s last two games are Exeter (A) and Cornwood (H).