The Lions team that defeated Gloucestershire Young Cricketers<br>credit: Contributed

Devon Lions (above) prior to their seven-wicket win over Gloucestershire Young Cricketers. Back (left to right): Mike Cherry (team manager), Lawrence Walker, Seb Ansley, James Horler, Sam Elstone, Tom Mitch, Ethan Guest, Charlie Ward, Tim Western (coach); front: Jon Triner, Adam Small, Jack Ford, Harry Passenger, Teddy Haffenden

Scorecard

DEVON Lions had too much firepower all-round for a youthful Gloucestershire Young Cricketers XI, who were seven-wicket losers in a 50-over challenge match at Exeter.

Gloucestershire, who won the toss and batted first, were all out early in the 44th over for 152.

Devon had the Young Cricketers in trouble at 24 for three after an early going over from Ethan Guest and Seb Ansley.

Ahmed Syed sensibly batted time for 49 off 86 balls, and runs from Dexter Trego (24) and Rhys Baker (23) took the running total up to 108 for five.

Tom Mitch (2-21 from 10 overs) and Charlie Ward (5-0-17-1) gave Gloucestershire little to hit. Mitch did not concede a single boundary during his spell.

Once Syed was the sixth man out wickets fell regularly to Jon Trinner (3-18), aided and abetted by a second spell from Guest (3-20) as Gloucestershire were bowled out early.

Devon got to 55 for one relatively comfortably, Harry Passenger the only casualty, then lost James Horler (22) and Lawrence Walker (0) in a seven-ball over from Syed (2-48).

That was as good as it got for Gloucestershire as Sam Elstone (71no) and Adam Small (32no) steered the Lions to victory without further mishap with an unbroken stand of exactly 100.

Tim Western, who runs the Lions development programme, said it would be wrong to focus too hard on the youthfulness of the opposition.

“It was a very solid performance against a young Gloucestershire team, but I would not want to take anything away from how we played,” said Western.

 “We dominated in both innings and it was another indication of the strength in depth that the county has.  

 “All of our bowlers made it difficult for Gloucestershire, whose score was probably 100 short.

 “The partnership of 100 between Sam Elstone and Adam Small was impressive and took the Lions to a comfortable win with 18 overs remaining.”

The Devon Lions’ next game is against Somerset Academy on Sunday 21 July at Sandford.