Dartington & Totnes Cricket Club began its’ pre-season programme with a friendly fixture at Abbotskerswell on Sunday. On a predictably damp track, given the recent rainfall, Abbots struggled to score, being pinned down by accurate bowling from D&T. After 20 overs they had scored just 37 runs. South African, Eddie Verrall, made his debut for D&T and shone with bat and ball. Coming on to bowl first change he took 3 wickets with his off-spin. Abbots recovered later in the innings to post 181 for 5 with Noah Tobias plundering runs off his former team mates.
James Nicholls and Gavin Colegate opened the batting for D&T. Colegate grafted but also found runs hard to come by. Nicholls looked in good touch but was soon yorked which brought Eddie Verrall to the crease for his first innings in English conditions. The man from Bloemfontein adapted very quickly and was soon finding the boundary with regularity. After Colegate’s demise he found a willing partner in Chris Cook and runs flowed freely. Verrall looked a very good acquisition and his innings was a mixture of power and precision. Cook was lbw for 27 just after Verrall had reached his 50 and by now there was over 100 on the board. Evergreen Harold Stevenson (13 not out) joined Verrall and was content to play the anchor role whilst the South African expressed himself. Verrall scored 112 not out and finished the game off in style with his fifth 6. It had been a useful outing for both sides and D&T’s programme continues next week away to Stoke Gabriel.