Devon D West

Exwick v Yelverton Bohemians

A FANTASTIC 93 from Geoff Brain saw Yelverton 1st XI bounce back in perfect fashion, inflicting a crushing 151 run defeat on a weakened Exwick CC.

It was crucial that Yelverton got back on track after a poor performance at Kenn last week. With rain around, Exwick won the toss and put the visitors in on what looked like a difficult track.

Early on, it looked the correct decision. Harding (0-22) and Ellis (2-42) made it extremely difficult for opening batsman Geoff Brain and Luke Julyan. 

Yelverton were on just 10/0 after ten overs. However, once the opening bowlers were seen off, Brain made batting look easy.

Rowe (1-59) and Caryl (0-55) came in for some heavy hitting, with Julyan at the other end preferring to score in singles. It wasn’t long before Brain brought up his 50, and Yelverton looked good at drinks at 104/0. 

The tempo didn’t stop after drinks. With Brain on 93, Ellis took a superb boundary catch off the bowling of Rowe when the ball looked destined to go for six.

It was a great knock from Brain, his 93 coming from 95 balls, including ten fours and four sixes. He and Julyan shared a first wicket partnership of 136. 

Julyan and new batsman Rich Townsend saw the score to 166 before Julyan was out for 45, caught by Harding off the bowling of Dove (1-27). Townsend soon followed for 21, brilliantly caught by Phillips off the bowling of the returning Ellis. 

Christiaan van Niekerk (9) didn’t last long, being adjudged LBW, Ellis picking up his second wicket. 

After a brief rain delay, Chris Cottrell (15*) and Chris Vinson (7*) saw Yelverton to 200 and full batting points.

The players then came off again, and tea was called with Yelverton setting Exwick 207 to win off 40 overs. 

The Exwick chase got off to a terrible start, with Dan Cooper taking an impressive diving catch to remove Courtenay for five runs, with Hadleigh Scott-Kirk (2-32) the bowler. It went from bad to worse for the hosts, with Hukku (9), Priddle and Harding (both 0) falling to van Niekerk (4-13), helped by Vinson who took two catches. 

Grunsell top scored with 15 before he was caught behind by Julyan off Crompton (2-3).

Once Dove (0) became van Niekerk’s fourth victim, the end seemed nigh with the score just 35/6. That became 35/7 when Cranston was bowled by Crompton.

Rowe (12) and Caryl (5) hung around for a while, putting on the highest partnership of the innings (20). Caryl had his off-stump removed by James Casey (1-5), and Rowe was the last man out, bowled by Scott-Kirk.

Ellis was unable to bat, leaving Exwick all out for 55, and a 151-run win for Yelverton. 

A polished performance by Yelverton, the highlights being Brain’s 93 and van Niekerk’s 4-13. Next week is the reverse fixture, when Yelverton host Exwick at Langton Park (1.30pm start). All spectators are welcome.

Yelverton 2nd XI’s local derby with Tavistock 2nd’s & the 3rd XI’s game v Chagford 3rd’s both fell victim to the unseasonal wet weather & were cancelled without a ball bowled.