By OLLIE SMITH
CORNWOOD’S Mohsin Khan followed up a Premier Division double ton a fortnight ago by slamming a century against Budleigh Salterton in the Tiflex Devon T20 Cup.
Khan opened with Ryan Rickard, who was dismissed without causing the Budleigh bowlers too much angst.
George Thompson came and went for one, giving Hugo Hughes (2-40) his second wicket, and leaving the Wood at 32 for two. Elliott Staddon steadied the ship with Khan and then put the afterburners on. The pair shared 112 runs in under 10 overs. Ed Doble was the man to break the partnership, he had Staddon caught by Will Down for 35. Captain Matt Skeemer added a handy 13, he was the only other batter to reach double figures.
Khan’s century was bought up with four overs of the innings remaining, and he managed to add another 27 to his total, finishing on 127 not out from 63 balls. Simaant Dubey bore the brunt of Khan’s onslaught, his economy rate of 13.50 won’t be one he will want to look back on.
Sid Fereday (1-26) and Budleigh captain Ed Doble 91-28) were the two bowlers to leave with respect, both bowlers completed their quotas with fewer than 30 runs against their names, and with a wicket apiece. Cornwood finished their 20 overs on 202 for five.
The Budleigh response got off to the strongest of starts, Doble and Hughes were going at tens by the time the powerplay was finished.
Two quick wickets at the start of the ninth over balanced the game: Hughes was caught by Khan off the bowling of Staddon (3-45) for 45, and Max Mejzner was dismissed the very next ball.
By the time Doble was out for exactly 50, Budleigh were well in the game, however no other Budleigh batter kicked on like the openers. Three players could claim they got starts, but didn’t go further. James Doble (18), Harvey Shipton (17), and Tom Oxland (21) all threatened to take the game deep, but Matt Puttock’s three for 39, and Lee Baker’s one for 24 prevented Budleigh from going any further.
By the time the twentieth over had started, victory for Budleigh was unlikely, 32 runs from six balls was the equation. Puttock, the man entrusted to bowl it, only conceded four runs as Budleigh finished 28 runs short on 174 for nine.
Skeemer, the man leading the Cornwood side, praised his overseas’ contribution.
“Mohsin’s knock was brilliant again, when he’s batting like that you’re very thankful he’s on your side,” said Skeemer.
“We were very happy to reach 200, and felt it was definitely a match winning score.”
Skeemer also acknowledged the performances from the Budleigh openers.
“Fair play their two openers. They put us under lots of pressure with some really clean hitting.”
“Once we had them both out though, we were pretty comfortable.”
A Jon Triner half-century dug Bradninch & Kentisbeare out of a hole at Kilmington, as the Premier Division champions won by 35 runs.
Triner (52no) was supported by Gary Chappell (35) and Muhammad Ismail (21), however both players were barely surviving above a run a ball. Triner’s knock helped B&K reach 137 for five.
In response, three Kilmington batters surpassed 20, but none more than Luke Meek’s 33. That was as good as it got for Kilmington, as Alex Brooks blew away the tail, taking four wickets for five runs. Kilmington finished on 102 for nine.
In a rain-affected game, Ivybridge edged out Thorverton by seven runs.
Arthur Johnson top-scored with 24, and there was 13 for Zach Dunn as the Bridge reached 69 for eight from 12 overs. DLS reduced the target to 67.
Harry Solomon’s four for 10 complimented Johnson’s opening spell of one for seven. There was brief hope for Thorverton as a solitary Nisapthan Saravanane over was sent for 17 by Shane Yelverton (18) and Oliver Hawke (14). However it wasn’t enough as they finished on 59 for nine, a seven-run defecit.
Sixty from Billy Barriball, and more than useful 40s from James White (43 from 17) and Rhys Davies (46 from 40) saw Tavistock pile on 187 for five away to Plymouth.
Teddy Haffenden top scored in reply with 34, however the next best score was Aziz Rahmanzai’s 16 batting at number nine, as the city side struggled to 105 all out. James McGahey and Elliot Hamilton both took three wickets each.
