SPINNER Andy Procter had a career best bowling return of seven for 62 to put Devon in the driving seat on day one of their Minor Counties Championship opener against Dorset at Bovey Tracey.

   The Budleigh Salterton captain (pictured) has had plenty of five-wicket hauls in the past and a couple of sixes – including a previous best of six for 77 against Shropshire at his home club back in 2000.

   But he hadn't had a seven-for return playing for Devon until today (Sunday) when Dorset tail ender Martin Ford prodded a catch to David Court crouched near the bat on the edge of the cut strip.

   Ford was last man out for Dorset on 199 at the end of a disappointing second session for the visitors, who failed to press on after lunch.

   Skipper Peter Deakin opted to bat first after winning the toss and it looked a sound decision as Dorset only lost opener Glyn Tregus reaching 94 for one at the interval.

   Devon bowled poorly before lunch, either with too much width or too short of a length, and were lucky to keep the score below 120 at the break.

   Whatever skipper Bob Dawson said in the impromptu huddle before play resumed after lunch clearly hit home as Devon were a different side in the afternoon session.

   Ian Bishop steamed in full of venom bowling tight lines and giving the batsmen no width to enjoy.

   Procter kept wheeling away at the other end while Dawson rotated the bowling at the other, and the wickets started to fall.

   The 83-run stand for the second wicket between Neil Thurgood and Deakin ended when Thurgood snicked Bishop to Matt Hunt at slip.

   Deakin was next to go, well caught by Rob Newman off Procter at mid-wicket for a near flawless 58. For Newman it was a redemptive experience as he had dropped a sitter before lunch and generally had a shocker in the field.

   Tom Webley and Darren Cowley shared a quckfire stand of 55 for the fourth wicket and while they were together Devon toiled more in hope than expectation at times.

   Cowley likes to smash the ball about – he hoisted Procter over the pavilion roof with one huge blow – but doesn't always get it right.

   Dawson had Newman (pictured) out on the line for the one that wasn't going to make it and on 30 Cowley found him, giving Procter his second wicket and leaving Dorset 181 for four.

   Once Cowley went Webley couldn't find anyone to stick with him as wickets fell with reckless abandon.

   Seven Dorset batsman came and went for the addition of just 18 runs as they nosedived from 181 for three to 199 all out in the space of 18 overs. Procter had six of the wickets to fall; Newman had the other one.

   Openers Matt Hunt and Richard Foan gave Devon a 32-run start which ended prematurely when Hunt, who hadn't been in any difficulty against the seamers, played back and across to spinner Tom Hicks and was given out lbw.

   Sandy Allen came and went for one, running himself out when he set off, hesitated and went back too late, then Foan was bowled playing down the wrong line to Tregus, leaving Devon 62 for three.

   Any hopes Dorset had of putting Devon under pressure were soon dashed by fourth-wicket pair Bob Dawson and Neil Hancock (pictured), who put on 92 in 21 overs.

   Hancock's was the final wicket to fall last night, well caught low down at cover by Thurgood off Martin Ford for 73, in a Devon total of 154 for four.

   Thurgood allowed himself a loud celebration after stooping to take Hancock as he was in the doghouse with skipper Deakin for dropping Dawson at slip in the previous over.

   Hancock faced 44 balls reaching his 50, faced 78 in total and hit 10 fours and two sixes, which kept running between the wickets to a minimum.

Dorset 199 (P Deakin 58, N Thurgood 41, D Cowley 30, T Webley 30; A Procter 7-62), Devon 154-4 (N Hancock 73, R J Foan 30). Bonus points: Devon 4, Dorset 2.