North Devon 19 August 2025

Captain Craig Foster

Won by 6 Wickets

North Devon 187 all out (Sam Hicks 8.3-1-31-3, Lewis North 6-1-11-2, Arjith Ravi 8-4-16-2)

SOA 254 for 3 dec (Shiraz Husain 44, Lewis North 37, Arjith Ravi 25*, Swapnil Kulkarni 22)

Day two at North Devon and the home side won the toss and elected to bat, hoping to build a total around their impressive overseas Roshan Lakmal. Early wickets for Andy Capel, Sam Hicks and Lewis North put our hosts on the back foot before Lakmal strode to the crease, and, with solid support from Navindu Vanderbona (33), the runs began to flow. SOA stuck to their task though as skipper Craig Foster look to limit Lakmal's share of the strike and take wickets to keep the pressure on.

Arjith Ravi picked up two wickets and Ben Jefferis  grabbed another in between, both taking some punishment from Lakmal, who marched on towards a deserved century, before Ravi eventually dismissed him for a marvellous 101 (two sixes and 18 fours). Late runs from Nathan Ware (22) boosted the North Devon total  until Sam Hicks brought the innings to a close on 187 all out in the 43rd over.

After yet another fine tea, Peter Andrews briefly opened SOA's reply before taking a blow to the face and disappearing to the local A&E to ensure that no long-term damage had been done. His opening partner Shiraz Husain found things easier at the other end, striking a stylish 44 to get the visitors' response under way. Middle-order support from Lewis North, Swappy and Ravi continued the momentum against the home bowlers, taking us to a well-deserved six-wicket victory in only the 30th over.

Andrews returned intact from his medical interlude and was able to join an impressive 40-plus SOA tour party members enjoying the traditional President's Dinner in the Instow Arms to round off another enjoyable couple of days at the ever-hospitable North Devon CC.