Devon youth cricket: Whimple s Jack Dart played a leading role as East Devon won their under-13 game against Warwickshire Bears on Monday.

Devon youth cricket: Whimple's Jack Dart played a leading role as East Devon won their under-13 game against Warwickshire Bears on Monday.

After early runs from Dillon Penberthy (18), the score slumped from 40 without loss to 61-4 before Dart and Budleigh's Harry Parkins got together and the pair added 68 for the fifth wicket.

Parkins played very much the supporting role with seven whilst Dart put bat to ball with great effect to hit a top score of 38.

Late runs came from Ben Hancock (9no) and Ollie Hensberg (9) as the East innings closed on 129-5, boosted by a whopping 82 extras!

The Bears made a tidy start and were 35 without loss when the East side turned to the slower bowlers.

Leg spinner Sam Loud (2-27) and off spinner Hancock (3-10) bowled with great discipline, removing half the visiting side, until a late order revival put the Bears back on the way.

A defining moment was when the Bears' batsman who threatened to win the game alone, was run out by some smart fielding and thinking by both Hancock and Loud, the latter being at the stumps to receive the accurate throw from Hancock and that spelled the end of the Bears hopes and they were eventually bowled out for 137. East coach Steve Loud had special praise for Ben Hancock for his all round effort and he also sang the praises of Budleigh youngster Parkins who, at 12, was playing in the age group above his own.

Next on the agenda for the under-13s is a tour to Wales, which starts on Monday, August 18, and sees them play three games in Wales against Mid Glamorgan, West Glamorgan and Cardiff, before stopping off on the way home to meet Bristol on August 21.

l The final of the County Sports under-17 Trophy will now be played this coming Sunday (August 10) after last weekend's Finals Day was washed out half way through.

In the first game of the day, Culmstock beat holders Exmouth by a margin of just two runs, but then the second game was abandoned and that tie was due to be played last night (Tuesday) with the winners facing Culmstock in Sunday morning's final at Ottery.

By Stephen Birley

Devon youth cricket