SUNDAY, MAY 3
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THE pressure is on holders Devon to beat Berkshire at Instow this Sunday after yesterday's seven-wicket Minor Counties KO Cup defeat by Herefordshire.
Devon did well to reach 184 all out at Colwall, a picturesque ground in the shadow of the Malvern Hills, as their batting lacked its usual fluency.
On a pitch of variable bounce and indeterminate pace, Devon committed the cardinal sin for this form of cricket of failing to bat out their overs. There was a reason for that: some bad shot selection and some worse decision making between the wickets.
Herefordshire also bowled well and let the pressure build up by taking their catches.
When Devon bowled they sent down too many four balls that were either too wide, too short or a bit of both. The control they get from suspended paceman Ian Bishop was clearly missing.
Hereford openers Harshad Patel put on Dan Bassett for the first wicket. By the time Devon applied the brake, it was too late to make much difference.
Bassett was run out on 99 with victory in sight for Herefordshire, when he stepped out of his ground after patting the ball back to bowler Neil Hancock, who threw down the stumps.
It was a hollow success for Devon as the to-win target was 37 by then, most of which Huw Jones claimed on his way to 39 not out.
Defeat leaves Devon no margin for error in their last two qualifying games in Group Three. Lose to Berkshire this Sunday and the odds on retaining the cup won in a blaze of glory at Lord's last season will look remote.
Devon skipper Bob Dawson could not do much about the ball that got him out, a lifter from Stuart Wedge that clipped the bat on the way through to keeper Ian Stevenson.
Surviving opener Chris Mole went at 71 – routinely caught at extra-cover for 26 – followed two balls later by Hancock for none at all.
Left-hander Rob Holman looked on top off the bowling, as he showed with a glorious pull through midwicket to bring up his half-century. By the end off the over he was out: caught behind after nicking the ball on to his pads then being powerless to stop it ballooning over his head to the grateful keeper.
The two Davids – Lye and Court – appeared to have Devon back on track during their stand of 23 for the firth wicket. The comeback was cut short when Lye unfurled the off-drive and was caught for his ambition.
Sandy Allen came in, swished lamely across the line at Herefordshire skipper Chris Boroughs and was bowled first ball.
The carnage continued with Court out lbw to Boroughs for 15 and Will Murray unluckily run out at the non-striker's end coming back for a second.
Batting partner Trevor Anning had set off after seeing a possible catch at mid-off evade the fielder and the delay caused by wondering whether to run a second or not proved terminal for Murray.
With Murray out Devon were 130 for eight and struggling to set any sort of defendable total. It was down to Anning that they did.
Anning hit five fours in an unbeaten 35 that contributed towards Devon adding 54 for the last two wickets.
Scott Barlow made 16 and last man Adam Gribble none at all, although he proved adept at keeping an end up as 30 runs were posted while he was sharing the crease with Anning.
Gribble and Murray plug Devon gaps