North Devon clinch thrilling win over Lashings

By arjones

DAN BOWSER scored a brilliant half-century as North Devon enjoyed a thrilling last-ball win over the star-studded Lashings World XI at Instow.

The young opener carried his bat for 85 despite the pain of a broken toe, condemning Lashings to their first defeat of the summer.

Chasing 184, North Devon kept up with the required rate throughout their innings.

But they still needed a scrambled single by Jas Kalsi (2no) off the last ball of the match to clinch a six-wicket victory.

Australians Stuart Law (65) and Greg Blewett (65no) put on 107 for the fifth wicket as Lashings posted 183-6 off their 35 overs.

Accurate bowling from new-ball bowlers Stewart Rhodes (1-12) and Martin Gear (3-28) helped reduce Lashings to 15-3, Phil De Freitas, Gordon Greenidge and Mohammad Kaif all failing to make double figures.

When Wasim Jaffer (26) nicked slow left-armer Matt Dart (1-39) to wicketkeeper Rob Ayre, Lashings were 59-4 halfway through their overs.

But Law and Blewett combined to steer their side to a competitive total.

After a positive opening stand of 48 between Bowser and Neil Bettiss (13), Stewart Rhodes (37) and Dan Pickard (28) built well-paced partnerships with Bowser.

Rhodes was particularly savage on Devon Malcolm (1-42) in the 17th over, hitting him for six, six and four only to hole out in the deep off the next delivery.

Arguably, North Devon should have had the win wrapped up well before the final ball, but it was a thrilling finish for the large crowd at Instow as Kalsi and Bowser scampered the crucial run off Blewett's delivery.

North Devon beat Lashings World XI by 6 wickets.

Lashings World XI 183-6 (Phil De Freitas 5, Gordon Greenidge 7, Mohammad Kaif 2, Wasim Jaffer 26, Stuart Law 65, Greg Blewett 65no, Adam Crispin 0, Chris Harris 7no; Stewart Rhodes 5-1-12-1, Martin Gear 7-1-28-3, Matt Westaway 8-0-35-1, Matt Dart 7-0-39-1, Rob Gear 3-0-30-0, Jason Hayes 2-0-27-0, Mike Hedden 2-0-7-0, Jas Kalsi 1-0-4-0).

North Devon 184-4 (Neil Bettiss 13, Dan Bowser 85no, Stewart Rhodes 37, Dan Pickard 28, Mike Hedden 7, Jas Kalsi 2no; Mohammad Akram 8-0-38-1, Greg Blewett 6-0-35-1, Saqlain Mushtaq 7-1-28-1, Devon Malcolm 7-0-42-1, Mohammad Kaif 7-0-32-0).

● See next week's Journal for a full report, reaction and photos from North Devon's win over Lashings.