MINOR COUNTIES PLAY-OFF GAME, DAY ONE, SEPTEMBER 10

NEIL Hancock just missed out on a fourth Championship century of the season as he led Devon's fightback on the first day of their Minor Counties play-off game against Buckinghamshire.

   Devon were bowled out for 290 in their first innings – Hancock making a top score of 95 – and by last night's close in the three-day fixture Bucks were 156 runs behind on 134 for two.

   Devon, who opted to bat first after skipper Bob Dawson won the toss, made a sketchy start that saw them 36 for three in the first hour.

   James Beeney hit left-armer Paul Sawyer for two fours in quick succession then wound up for a third and snicked a catch to Jason Harrison in the slips.

   Neil Bettis was out midway through the next over from Phil Sampson when he was rapped on the pad first ball and sent on his way by the raised finger.

   Skipper Dawson had a let off when he was put down at slip off Sawyer on seven but failed to make Bucks pay for that spill by being bowled coming down the wicket and turning Sawyer's delivery into a near yorker.

   Hancock and surviving opener Chris Mole saw Devon through to lunch without further mishap, although Hancock did have a double portion of luck on 18. Hancock tried to put Sawyer away for six over fine-leg where the fielder took the catch but stumbled over the rope in doing so and gave away a six.

   The catch wouldn't have counted anyway though as a no-ball had already been called.

   Mole went in the first over following lunch when he played a casual chip shot to spinner Jonathan Newall and was easily caught at mid-off.

   Another wicket then would have been a disaster for Devon, but Bucks were made to wait while Hancock and David Court compiled a stand of 79.

   Bucks' bowlers were all guilty of bowling too many short balls and half-trackers, which were meat and drink to Hancock, who pulled and slog-swept to his heart's content on the way to 95.

   Hancock reached his 50 from 87 balls and looked on course for another ton to add to the two he scored against Cornwall, and the one notched against Wales, when the short ball proved his undoing.

   Duncan Spencer dropped one short that Hancock swished and missed at and dished up another immediately that the Paignton skipper got a nick through to keeper Graham Paskins.

   Hancock had taken 20 balls to get from 50 to 95, finishing with a total of three sixes and 13 fours, and Bucks were glad to see the back of him at 208 for five.

   Court, who played a watchful innings by his swashbucking standards and Sandy Allen added 43 for the fifth wicket. The stand ended when Allen played around a delivery from Spencer and was bowled for 22.

   Court soldiered on to the end to make an unbeaten 53, but no one else made more than nine as Devon's last five wickets went down for 35 runs.

   Spencer finished with bowling figures of four for 71 while Sampson picked up Andy Procter and Ian Bishop cheaply at the end to claim three for 50.

   Devon nipped out former Surrey all-rounder Keith Medlycott cheaply – Ian Bishop had him caught at slip for two – but Alex Hales (72) and Jason Harrison (47) added 131 for the second wicket as Bucks ate away at Devon's lead.

   When bad light stopped play more than 16 overs early last night, Bucks had just lost Harrison to a direct-hit run-out affected by Hancock from short third-man.

   Devon 290 (N D Hancock 95, D G Court 53no, C M Mole 36; P J Sampson 3-50, D J Spencer 4-71), Buckinghamshire 134-2 (A D Hales 72, J C Harrison 47).