SUNDAY, MAY 18
CORNWALL and Devon will collide head-on at St Just on June 1 in a winner-takes all clash on the road to Lord's.
Yesterday's Minor Counties Trophy game between Devon and Herefordshire at Budleigh Salterton was called off without a ball bowled due to overnight rain.
Despite heroic efforts by Budleigh Salterton members and the ground team, who toiled away under a blazing sun, the Ottermouth outfield was just too wet to play on.
Umpires Phil Matten and Roger Tolchard, the former Leicestershire and England wicketkeeper who is new to the Minor Counties panel this year, waited more than two and a half hours before calling the game off.
The top two teams qualify from the West pool of the competition. Devon (3pts) are third behind leaders Berkshire (4pts) and second-placed Cornwall (4pts) with one game each to play.
Devon can be overhauled from behind by Wiltshire, who have a game in hand to play. If Wiltshire (2pts) beat Berkshire and Herefordshire, Devon will go through by winning at St Just.
Devon's worry is another rain-off in Cornwall, which could let Wiltshire pass them.
“Once we lost to Berkshire last Sunday we knew we would have to win at Cornwall to qualify,” said Devon skipper Bob Dawson.
“Having the game against Herefordshire rained off isn't the end of the world as that would not have been enough for us to go through.
“We would have gone to St Just level on points with Cornwall, but still needing to beat them anyway.
“If we win at St Just we will be a point ahead of Cornwall, which I hope will be enough.
“Wiltshire are the wild card as they could go past all of us if they win both their games.
“There are so many different permutations you can't cover them all. Suffice to say we are stuffed if we lose or get rained off. What we really don't want is any more rain.”
The picture will be clearer as far as Devon are concerned after this Sunday's game between Wiltshire and Berkshire at Trowbridge.
Devon commence a three-day game against Oxfordshire at Banbury Town CC in the Minor Counties Championship on the same day.
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