Sunday, April 15 2007
BOB Dawson, Neil Hancock and David Court all hit half-centuries as Devon's warm-up programme continued with a 167-run win over a Devon Development XI at Exmouth.
Exmouth captain Court top scored with 74, which came off just 53 balls and included nine fours and a six, as Devon were all out for 324 in the last of their 50 overs.
A three-wicket burst from Trevor Anning, and two wickets for Ian Bishop, had the Development XI reeling at 14 for four then 44 for five in the 10 th over.
Paignton's Seb Benton and Barton's Jack Porter stopped the slide with a stand of 71 spread across 21 overs, although there wasn't much they could do about the damage already done.
Once Porter and Benton went in quick succession - Porter to a great diving catch by Court at square-leg off Anning – it was only a question of how long the Development XI could hang on.
The answer was all the way to the end as Shane Evenden (16no) and Torquay's Matt Thompson (15) used up the overs to reach an eventual total of 157 for eight.
For Devon's batsmen time at the crease was what they wanted, especially those who had missed out against Somerset at Taunton seven days earlier.
Dawson, who failed the trouble the scorers at Taunton, played himself in then went on to make 69 in even time in a stand of 108 for the first Devon wicket with Foan.
Foan, whose 45 made up for his handful at Taunton, was the first of three wickets claimed by Porter, whose bowling stood up best of all the Development XI seamers.
Dawson was teased out hitting Matt Cooke over the top, which turned out to be a mixed blessing for the Development XI as that unleashed Hancock and Court on their attack.
Ex-Paignton captain Hancock's 51 was at run-a-ball for all practical purposes and included three fours, three sixes and ten in an over off Porter.
Eleven overs of carnage, which yielded 90 Devon runs, ended when Paignton's Stephen George bowled Court.
Hancock was well caught by Porter off Eliot Acton behind square which left Devon 282 for four, after which the Development XI bowlers started to take their revenge for the rough treatement handed out.
Tom Allin (3-67) and Porter (3-47) were both among the wickets as the bottom half of Devon's order went with the minimum of fuss.
Devon 324 (R I Dawson 69, D G Court 75, N D Hancock 51, R J Foan 45; T Allin 3-67, J Porter 3-41), Devon Development XI 157-8 (S Benton 36, J Porter 31; T S Anning 4-23). Devon bt Devon Development XI by 167 runs.