CHRIS Mole hit a century and Neil Hancock was just three runs short of one as Devon trounced Dorset by 85 runs in the Minor Counties KO Cup pool opener at Bournemouth.
Opener Mole carried his bat for 136 not out, which came off 145 balls, and Hancock smashed a brisk 97 as Devon racked up 328 for five in their 50 overs.
Dorset needed something similar from one of their early batsman to stay in the game, so Devon were delighted when Ian Bishop stuck twice to leave them 21 for two.
Glyn Treagus was caught behind wafting for three and dangerman Darren Cowley fell for 16 to a catch at long-on by a back-peddling David Lye.
Devon know all about Cowley's potential to destroy bowling attacks from his time with Barton in the Francis Clark Devon League.
Steve Selwood, the former Derbyshire left-hander, hit 75 at run-a-ball rate as Dorset tried to claw back into the game, but other than 34 from ex-Somerset staffman Tom Webley lacked worthwhile support.
Skipper Bob Dawson removed Selwood by getting him to chip a catch up to Hancock at short mid-on and at that point Dorset's hopes dwindled to nothing.
Andy Procter (4-53) took care of the middle and lower order before Trevor Anning wrapped the game up an over and a half early by bowling last man James Elliot-Square with the score on 243.
Devon got away to a quickfire start with Mole and Dawson plundering 70 in the opening 14 overs. Dawson went for 31 to a low catch at mid-off to give Ziggy Arshad the wicket.
Hancock and Mole then added 151 in the next 20 overs as Devon hurtled to 221 for two at an almost indecent speed.
Mole was quite happy to let Hancock play his shots, which took him to 50 off 44 balls and 97 from just 76 deliveries received. Hancock was put down once – on 94 out in the country by Arshad – then got out going for a big hit to bring up his ton.
Martin Ford dropped one in short, Hancock went for the pull, but ballooned the ball up in the air over mid-wicket where Tom Hicks was waiting for the catch.
Dorset skipper Hicks had every had every reason to be glad to see the back of Hancock having retired from the pulled himself from attack after one over of heavy punishment.
David Court, Lye and Rob Woodman came and went in quick succession as Devon took risks with wickets in hand as the overs ticked down.
Lye didn't appear to be risking that much when he called Mole for a second, but Matt Metcalfe's throw from the deep square-leg boundary was right over the stumps and he had to go.
By now there was a certain inevitability about Mole reaching his century as he hadn't offered a chance and barely played a wrong shot.
The luckless Arshad dropped Mole on 86, but the only other chance offered didn't come until three figures were safely on the board.
Once Mole reached his century – his first in the competition for Devon – he cut loose, not that 100 of 123 balls was exactly hanging around!
Hicks came back for a second bite of the cherry – and was summarily dispatched for two successive sixes by Mole, over long-off and square-leg respectively.
Treagus was thumped over mid-wicket in the next over as Mole showed he had shots to spare in his locker. His 136 came off 145 balls and included 10 fours and three sixes.
Devon's cup campaign continues this Sunday when they face Berkshire at Exmouth. Dorset's pool campaign continues with a trip to St Just to face Cornwall.
Devon 328-5 (C M Mole 136no, N D Hancock 97, R I Dawson 31; M D Ford 2-56), Dorset 243 (S A Selwood 75, T C Hicks 36no, T Webley 34; A J Procter 4-53, I E Bishop 2-35). Devon bt Dorset by 85 runs.
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