BOVEY Tracey’s Premier Division relegation worries deepened following a 145-run defeat by Exeter that dropped them back into the bottom two.

Exeter totted up 347 for five across 50 overs on the County Ground with Zack Vukusic leading the way with 116 not out.

Vukusic, who is only 16, hit seven fours and an identical number of sixes during his 111-ball stay. Along the way there was a stand of 71 for the third wicket with Eddie Steel (60), followed straight away by another of 109 with Sam Read (70 off 40 balls).

Wickets were in short supply from a depleted attack as far as Bovey were concerned. Five bowlers took one each. Seb Ansley wasn’t one of them, but his 10 overs for just 34 runs was the best set of figures in the book.

Musa Twala top scored on 42 and there were a pair of 28s for Tom Andrew and Pete Bradley in Bovey’s all-out reply of 202.

Exeter off-spinner Read (4-26) got into Bovey’s top order. Alex Jarman and Billy Buckingham claimed two wickets each on the way through the batting.

Lewis Hammett, who skippered Bovey in the absence through injury of Toby Codd, said: “With a number of bowlers away we always knew it was going to be tough.

“Vukusic batted extremely well – a proper innings that held it together for Exeter – and deserved his 100. Sam Read was at his brutal best.

“It is always going to be hard chasing a score like that and no one really got going.”

Devon Cricket League B Division. Bovey Tracey 2nd XI versus Clyst St George 1st XI. A 121 run win for Bovey who took to the crease first and were all out for 162 after 41.2 overs. However, things did not go well for the visitors who were all out for 41 after 14 overs. Bovey players happy at their victory
Devon Cricket League B Division. Bovey Tracey 2nd XI versus Clyst St George 1st XI. Bovey players happy at their victory (Steve Pope/MDA)

Bovey Tracey 2nd XI meanwhile moved on from their defeat at Bideford by delivering a 121-run battering to B Division rivals Clyst St George.

Bovey laboured to 162 all out in the 42nd over and were glad of rescue act from Dan Green and Braydon Pink for getting as many as that.

Sam Russell (27) had been the last man out in a running total of 75 for five when skipper Green teamed up with Pink. Their stand of 40 revived the innings.

Green made 38 from 28 balls – three fours, two sixes – while Pink batted through to the end for 25 not out.

Morgan Potgieter (3-27) did the damage at first for Clyst. Andy Donovan (2-17), Bertie Creer (2-2) and Nathan Wells (2-25) ensured there were few easy runs available.

Pink (4-22) and Ben Kay then reduced Clyst to a paltry 37 for six in reply.

Ben Steer finished what Kay and Pink had started by taking the last four wickets in a single over to skittle Clyst for just 41.

Green, the winning captain, said: “We are still not quite hitting our level with bat but it was a great win.

“The boys did fantastically with the ball, especially Braydon Pink and Ben Kay for their opening spells that decided the game.”