CAPTAIN Bob Dawson said missing out on making a century at Lord's didn't matter at all after guiding Devon to a 40-run win over Berkshire in the Minor Counties Trophy final.
Dawson top scored with 96 in Devon's total of 290 for five – which proved too many for Berkshire to chase after they slumped to 113 for six on the chase.
Despite a battling 79 from skipper Bjorn Mordt, Berkshire were all out for 250 in reply with two overs to go.
Dawson said there were few times in the match when he didn't feel in control. As for missing out on a Lord's ton, he could live with that in the context of a Devon win.
Said Dawson: In a couple of days I may be disappointed not to have got a hundred, but I would have taken 96 this morning. It helped us get in a great
position.
“It was such a bad ball that got me out – it should have been four, but I can't be worried about that now.
It's been a fantastic day. They chased really well, but I thought it was a massive score and it wasn't an easy wicket to bat on if you bowled in the right areas.
“I was worried for a minute in the chase, we needed the catch David Lye took to break the partnership between Mitchell Stocks and Craig Crowe.
“From there we were always in control even though they had a really good go.”
Although Dawson top scored for Devon, and was later named man of the match, Neil Hancock can't have been far away for his 53 not out off 23 balls in a late stand of 79 with Lye that effectively put the game beyond Berkshire.
“It was a fantastic partnership at the end,” said Dawson.
“The boundary on the Grandstand side was not that far away, but it was still phenomenal.”
Dawson first played at Lord's for Devon 17 years ago in the side that lost in the final to Staffordshire. He was back 12 months later when Devon were victorious over the same opposition.
He has known personal disappointment by being left out of Lord's NatWest final winning sides while with Gloucestershire, so beating Berkshire meant a lot to him.
“I won here with Devon 16 years ago as a young lad. I only played because Peter Roebuck was injured and Gloucestershire let me off a second team game to play.
“We've been to semis in this and lost in bowl-outs, and haven't had a lot of luck. Since I came back from Gloucestershire we have lost in two finals, so to finally win it is great.”