DAY THREE – AUGUST 22

DEVON are headed for a Minor Counties title showdown with Buckinghamshire next month after completing their Western Division programme with a 61-run win over Wales at Exmouth.

   Wales, who were rolled over for 101 in their first innings, proved far more resilient when they batted second time around, getting as far 360 all out after being set 422 to win and left four full sessions to get them.

   It took a massive effort in the field from Western Division champions Devon – they had already won the regional title ahead of the game – to winkle out Wales, who occupied the crease for 128 overs.

   Spinners Arwyn Jones of Plympton (2-69) and Budleigh Salterton's Andy Procter (3-94) bowled 75 overs between them as Devon whittled through the Wales batting.

   The last word went to Paignton's Neil Hancock (3-66), who finally broke a last-wicket stand of 40 when he yorked tail-ender Arron Shindler in the seventh over after tea.

   Although the Western Division title had been wrapped up by Devon when they defeated Cornwall two weeks ago, the situation in the East was wide open going into the final round of fixtures with Suffolk. Lincolnshire and Buckinghamshire all in the running.

   Suffolk defeated Lincolnshire by six wickets, but that wasn't enough to overhaul leaders Buckinghamshire, who beat Northumberland at Newcastle by five wickets.

   Devon have already made a bit of history by becoming the first county to win their division with a perfect 100 per cent record since the competition was split into East and West in 1983.

   But six out of six isn't good enough for skipper Bob Dawson – he wants to make it seven out of seven by beating Buckinghamshire in the final.

   “We have done brilliantly to win all our games so far and I am sure this team has one more win in it,” said Dawson.

   “We have played seriously good cricket to get this far and I am proud of the way everyone in the team has performed.

   “It has not just been me, or Ian Bishop, Neil Hancock or Andy Procter who have been putting in the match-winning performances – everyone has played a role.

   “Procs and Arwyn Jones bowled brilliantly so get Wales out a second time and Procs has had a great season from start to finish. He's the leading wicket-taker in the competition by a mile.

   “But what everyone else has done has been just as important. David Court is now a consistent cricketer at this level, Trevor Anning has come on leaps and bounds both batting and bowling; Sandy Allen went out and scored a century against Cornwall and the two lads from Sandford, Bettis and Foan, are established members of the team now.

   “There are some older heads in the team, like myself, Procs and Ian Bishop, who have been in three or four finals and not won any of them outright.

   “I believe we have the players this year to go all the way so long as the weather lets us.”

   Devon will meet Buckinghamshire in the final at Exmouth between September 10-12. The two counties haven't met in the championship since 1991 when they fought out a draw at Exmouth. Exeter's Giles White, who went on to play for Hampshire, had bowling figures of 10 for 161 in the match.

   The following season Bucks were moved into the Eastern Division as part of a reshuffle needed when Durham joined the ranks of the First Class counties.

   The last meeting of any sort between the two counties was in the 1996 season when Devon went to Aylesbury in the first round of the MCC KO Cup and lost to Bucks by 20 runs.

   Devon 226 (N D Hancock 50, R J Foan 39, N C Bettis 28; K D Tudge 5-69) & 296 (N D Hancock 106, R I Dawson 77; A C Shingler 3-59), Wales 101 (B J Wright 21; I E Bishop 9-35) & 360 (G P Rees 70, B J Wright 67, T L Merilaht 83, K D Tudge 36; A J Procter 4-94, N D Hancock 3-66, A Jones 2-69). Devon (22pts) bt Wales (4) by 61 runs.

Days one and two