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DEVON got fed up of playing second fiddle and starting pulling a few strings themselves on the second day of the game against Cheshire at Exmouth.
Cheshire, who made 341 for six in their first innings, had Devon 64 for three overnight and looking a little edgy.
Devon got the deficit down to 50 by making 291 for eight when they batted, then put Cheshire under pressure by whipping out four of their first six batters in the final session last night – Trevor Anning taking three for 38.
By close of play Cheshire were on the back foot having crept from 81 for four to 133 without further incident in the final hour and a half.
Devon are 183 runs behind going into the final dayand need early wickets to force a result.
Devon resumed on 64 for three with nightwatchman Ian Bishop determined to make the best of his elevation up the order. He certainly did that.
Bishop and Rob Holman pushed the score along to 121 before Cheshire broke the stand by dismissing Holman.
Holman made up for the disappointment of just missing out on a debut half century against Berkshire last month by making a patient 57.
Patient was certainly the right word for it as he faced 109 balls and hit 32 of his 57 in boundaries.
Bishop, who made 35, was next out when spinner Nathan Dumelow had him caught behind.
Devon could have faltered at that point as they had gone from 121 for three to 133 for five. James Hudson and David Lye ensured there was nothing to worry about by embarking on a stand of 87 for the sixth wicket.
Cheshire stuck exclusively to the spinners after lunch, taken at 185 for five, which meant no respite for Dumelow of Dan Berry.
In form Hudson should have had 50, but got out one run short when Dumelow lured him down the track far enough for Matt Dawson to whip the bails off before he could get back.
Lye went without any addition for 41 after edging Berry to Dawson.
As the overs ticked down Devon threw the bat at every opportunity and got away with it.
Sandy Allen was the anchorman at one end while Anning and Rob Newman flogged anything in reach.
Anning went for a quick 21, then Newman chanced his arm to make 32 off 18 balls, 28 of them coming in boundaries, as Devon added 35 in the final three overs.
Cheshire, 50 runs ahead on first innings, extended their lead by 44 before Devon made a breakthrough.
First out was Johnny Kettle, lbw to Anning, which brought skipper Andy Hall out into the middle.
Hall is a prized scalp for Devon, who were glad to see the back of him for eight: caught at slip by Aaron Williams off Scott Barlow.
Hall was the first of three men out in quick succession as Devon had their best spell of the game so far.
First-day centurion Leech was caught behind off Anning for 37 then James Duffy – another in the runs on day one – was out the same way to give Anning his third scalp.
Cheshire were 81 for four at that stage – effectively 131 for four overall - and another wicket then could have made things interesting.
Ben Spendlove (27) and Dumelow (32) were the not out batsmen at the close.
Cheshire 341-6 (D N Leech 154, J A Duffy 87; J M Hudson 2-60), & 133-4 (T S Anning 3-38), 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).