By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

DEVON'S adventures in the C&G Trophy ended on a low note when Essex thrashed them by 180 runs in the delayed game at Exmouth.

   From next season Minor Counties like Devon are excluded from the competition, which changes from a KO Cup format to having two divisions then play-offs to decide a winner.

   Devon, who beat Leicestershire at the same stage of last season's competition, always knew they were going to be up against it as the Essex side was packed with past and present internationals.

   Essex made 264 for five in their 50 overs – Andy Flower (69) and Ravinder Bopera (65no) both making half centuries – then Andre Adams and Darren Gough took six wickets each as Devon slumped to 23 for six in reply.

   Rising Kiwi star Adams, and ex-England pace ace Gough, tore into Devon right from the start by dispatching openers David Lye and Chris Mole in the first three overs.

   Worse was to follow as Adams removed Arul Suppiah and Andy Pugh four balls apart, then Gough accounted for Dawson then David Court in the next over. In the space of 10 balls, Devon had lost four wickets.

   Paignton's Neil Hancock hit a defiant 40 in a lost cause to save Devon from total collapse and they eventually mustered 84 all out.

   It was the sort of humbling defeat that critics of the Minor Counties playing in the competition point to as justification for chucking them out.

   Skipper Bob Dawson agreed Devon hadn't played well, but said Essex had everything going in their favour before the game started.

   “This wasn't going to be like Leicestershire last season as half the Essex side is made up of world class players,” said Dawson.

   “Leicestershire weren't in great form when we played them, whereas Essex have been going well so there was never going to be an upset.

   “We went into the game woefully under prepared as we haven't had the chance to play much cricket because of the weather – and our league season doesn't start until this Saturday.

   “They have been practising since the start of March and playing outside for a month.

   “Considering our lack of preparation, and the quality of the players we were up against like the Flower brothers and Ronnie Irani, never mind Ravi Bopara, we did well to keep them to 264.

   “If we had got Andy Flower out early on – don't forget they were 120 for four after we got his brother out – we could have kept it to 220-odd.

   “It was difficult batting out there but, fair play to them, they worked hard on a slow wicket at nibbled runs where they could.

   “Then we lost early wickets and it was only a case of how much longer it would take them.

   “I am disappointed we didn't do better in our last game in the C&G as it would have been nice to go out with a bit of a bang.

   “It was an experience for the younger players to come up against Andy Flower and Darren Gough – one they might not get again.

   “This wasn't going to be our day. We had that last year against Leicestershire and no one can take that off us.”

Essex 264-5 (R S Bopara 65no, A Flower 69, R C Irani 41), Devon 84 (N D Hancock 40; D Gough 3-18, A R Adams 3-17). Essex bt Devon by 160 runs.