IN their opening game of the Devon County 'Hardball' pairs competition the Mount House Colts A team played away against Lewdown Cricket Club.
Mount lost the toss and were put in to bat. With the score starting on 200, the first two pairs only put 15 runs on the board, mainly due to poor shot selection and indecisive calling and running between the wickets.
However the final two pairs — Jeremy Newman with Jacob David-Ward and Ralph Lopes with William Partington — realised the need for urgency and between them hit nine fours to complete the Mount House innings on 241. A modest score in pairs cricket.
A combination of good line-and-length bowling and concentration in the field restricted Lewdown CC to 214 runs with Benedict Pugsley, Barney Treneer, Ralph Lopes and Jacob David-Ward all taking crucial wickets and never allowing the Lewdown side time to settle. A special mention must be given to William Partington for his outstanding game behind the stumps as wicket keeper.
Mount House now progress to the second round of the Devon Hardball Cricket Competition.