Monday, June 23, 2008
A RECORD-breaking seventh-wicket stand of 128 between James Hudson and Sandy Allen stopped Devon sliding into trouble on the second day of the match against Berkshire at Torquay.
By close of play last night Devon had the game by the scruff of the neck as Berkshire were 54 for five second time around – a lead of 31 but with half their side out with a day to play.
Devon weren't quite up a creek at 158 for six when Budleigh Salterton's Allen came out to join Paignton all-rounder Hudson, but they didn't have much margin for error either.
Devon, who were 21 for one overnight, went from 86 for two to 100 for five after losing Richard Foan, Neil Bettis and Bob Dawson in quick succession.
Foan, who had a let-off when his stumps were snicked but the bails stayed in place, made a patient 34 before Steve Naylor uprooted his middle stump.
Bettis went next - same bowler, same method of dismissal – then skipper Dawson was brilliantly caught in the gully by a diving Jonno McLean.
Hudson and David Lye saw Devon through to lunch without further mishap and neither seemed in any real difficulties against the Berkshire bowling.
Lye, who dealt largely in boundaries while making 41, was the first man out after the interval when Tim Lambert bagged him lbw.
Allen got off the mark with a crisp drive back past the bowler, then settled into a consolidation session with Hudson. Occupation of the crease was more important than runs with more than two hours batting time to fill.
Berkshire bowled indifferently at times, and served up some brutish deliveries as well, all of which helped allow the game to drift along without too much pressure on either side.
The odd junk ball down the leg side was meat and drink to Allen, who shovelled away round the corner for all he was worth, picking up ones and twos on a regular basis.
Hudson preferred to bide his time and was so cautious he was overtaken from a standing start by Allen, who reached 50 before his colleague despite arriving in the middle with a 12-run deficit.
Hudson and Allen saw Devon through to tea and only started to cut loose after the break as the quest for bonus points became more important than hanging around.
Allen reached his 50 off 82 balls and soldiered on to make 74 before taking one risk too many against Lambert, Having tried to up the tempo with a series of improvised shots – and not making any contact at all – Allen fenced the ball through to Berks keeper Bjorn Mordt.
The stand broke a record that had stood for 10 years. The former holders were Nick Folland and Mark Gribble, who made 118 against Wales at Colywn Bay.
With Allen out of the way, Hudson felt a little freer to play his shots. Having already played the shot of the day, an on-the-toes drive through the covers for four, Hudson got the hammer out.
Tim Lambert was whipped away through square-leg for six – leaving a fieldsman grasping at thin air – then hooked former Somerset and England paceman Richard Johnson for six.
Johnson had an interesting day with the ball, bowling some real jaffas mixed with military medium of no real consequence. His figures of none for 101 from 24 overs will probably surprise those who knew him in his heyday.
Lambert got his reward for an afternoon of honest toil with some gift-wrapped Devon wickets in the final few overs. Hudson eluded him though to finish unbeaten on 74.
Trevor Anning, whose off-stump went cartwheeling, and Ian Bishop all gave it away as Lambert collected six for 87 in Devon's total of 311 for nine. Two overs earlier he had three for 69.
Berkshire, 23 runs behind on first innings, lost opener Dave Barnes and South African dangerman Jono McLean while they were still in arrears. Anning had Barnes lbw while McLean was caught at slip by Rob Holman.
When Anning bowled Dan Shilvock, Berkshire were one run ahead with seven wickets intact. Devon strengthened their hand late in the day as Dawson sent back Jamie Morris and first-day centurion Steve Naylor in successive balls to leave Berkshire reeling at 54 for five.