TUESDAY, JULY 21
DEVON captain Bob Dawson was critical of opposite number Andy Hall's tactics as the game against Cheshire at Exmouth meandered to the dullest of draws.
Hall left Devon a hefty chase of 317 to win in 63 overs at best – which was never realistic to start with.
When Devon were 51 for one after 20 overs there was nothing left to play for and the game went downhill from there.
Common sense won in the end with Hall and Dawson exercising their right to shake hands early and walk off with Devon 150 for three. It was the right decision as the game had long-since become a non-event.
Cheshire were top of the Western Division table going into the match and under no pressure from Devon, who have already written themselves out of contention. Yet they batted too long to give Devon the chance to win the game – and there was no way Dawson was going to give the game up on a plate.
“We are no danger to Cheshire so I can't understand why they declared when they did,” said Dawson.
“Cheshire know us well enough to know the way we play – leave us 270-280 in 70 or 80 overs and we will have a go. That's our best chance of winning the game – and theirs as well.
“Their captain is probably thinking it doesn't matter if they draw with us as they've got Herefordshire next and ought to be them. That's fine, but what if it rains?
“Shall we say I was disappointed a team that's top of the table didn't back themselves to win a game of cricket against a team that's no threat to them.”
Rewind to the start of play when Devon needed early wickets to have any prospect of forcing a result and got one 13 runs into the morning session when Nathan Dumelow was caught on the run by Dawson at mid-wicket.
Ben Spendlove, 27 not out overnight in a Cheshire total of 133 for four, took the score up to 223 for six while compiling a patient 70.
Spendlove had faced 160 balls, eight of which he hit for four, when he came down the track to Rob Newman and missed. Sandy Allen had the bails off in a trice.
Jason Whittaker was 53 not out when Cheshire skipper Hall decided enough was enough after 93 overs.
Devon never really got going against Cheshire's new-ball pairing of Adam Sydall or Whittaker, but reached 49 in reply before losing a wicket.
Rob Holman was lbw to Tom Young for 32 and four runs later Aaron Williams got out in similar manner to spinner Dumelow.
The last man out Lewis Gregory, who offered no shot to Dumelow and was bowled off his pads by a ball that turned unexpectedly.
Gregory went at 62 for three, leaving Devon with time to kill before they could give the game a decent burial.
Dawson and James Hudson batted through to the close while adding 88 unbroken for the fourth wicket.
Hudson finished on 31 not out while Dawson was unbeaten on 55 at the close. It was Dawson's 24th half-century. He later described it as comfortably the most meaningless of them all.
Devon now have a near-two week break before their next Championship game, which will be a non-event against Wiltshire at Salisbury between two sides who have no chance of winning the Western Division this season.
Before then Devon have a double date with Kenya: in a 50-over friendly at Exmouth this Sunday and in Twenty20 thrash at Exeter on Monday night.
Cheshire 341-6 (D N Leech 154, J A Duffy 87; J M Hudson 2-60), & 266-6 (B C Spendlove 70, N R C Dumelow 39, D N Leech 37; T S Anning 3-54), Devon 291-8 (R J Holman 57, J M Hudson 49, D F Lye 41, R J Newman 32no; N R C Dumelow 3-94, D O Berry 3-82) & 150-3 (R I Dawson 55no, R J Holman 32, J M Hudson 31no). Cheshire (11pts) drew with Devon (9)