Steer's (pictured) runs and wickets make Bovey's task easier | 'The stand between Sam Veal and Ben Steer was crucial'- Dan Green
BRAUNTON are starting to feel the heat down in the B Division drop zone after going down by 19 runs to Bovey Tracey 2nd XI.
A five-wicket haul for teenage seamer Luan Matthews de Menezes, the first of his adult career, helped Braunton limit Bovey to 161 all out.
Despite a dogged half-century from opener and captain Sam Reddick, Braunton came up short on 142 all out. Defeat means yet a week in the bottom two where they have Clyst St George (76pts) and Ashburton (58) either side of them (71).
With Ashburton due at Kelsey this Saturday, the pressure is on.
“This week’s game carries even more weight now we have dropped into the bottom two,” said Reddick.
Matthews de Menezes gave Braunton a dream start with two wickets in his first over. One each for Theo Valeri (2-46) and Dan Brierley reduced Bovey to 37 for four.
Sam Veal and Ben Steer rescued Bovey with a fifth-wicket partnership of 56, which proved pivotal to the eventual outcome. Twenty-nine more with Ben Green in for Steer also had a bearing.
The stands between Sam Veal and Steer then Green were crucial, but I think we bowled in the right areas as a unit and made it hard,” said Reddick.
Veal, in at two for two in the second over, went on to make 71 off 127 balls. He was involved in stands that added 135. Matthews de Menezes, back for a second spell, knocked over Veal and with two more wickets finished with match figures of five for 27.
“We bowled to our plans perfectly all day,” said Reddick. “Luan was absolutely superb and was levels above everyone.”
Reddick (57) was the only one of Braunton’s top six to get into double figures as Bovey’s bowlers tied them down. He was fifth out caught behind off Steer (3-25).
Jason Raynor (14) and Dan Brierley (10) came out bristling with aggression, but didn’t stay long enough to make a massive impact.
At 122 for nine it looked all over, but tail-ender Herbie Townsend and Matthews de Menezes saw it differently. Their last-wicket stand shaved 20 off the target and Bovey were relieved when the former was snared lbw by Green (2-39).
Looking back on the innings, Reddick said: “Once again losing wickets regularly during the chase, prevented us from getting on top on what was a very gettable score.
“Having said all that, the fight shown for our 10th wicket stand by Herbie and Luan was a joy to watch.
“A tough loss to take, so many moments in the game that didn’t go our way. Some vital drops and decisions that on other days could’ve gone in our favour.”
Reflecting on the match, winning captain Green said: “The stand between Sam Veal and Ben Steer was crucial, but I feel we bowled in the right areas as a unit and made it hard for them.”
