DAY ONE -SUNDAY, AUGUST 19

IAN Bishop bowled himself a place in Devon's side for next month's Minor Counties play-off final by tearing Wales to shreds with a career best nine-wicket performance at Exmouth yesterday.

   The Budleigh Salterton paceman Bishop went one better than his eight for 99 against Cornwall at Truro three years ago with nine for 35 as Wales were shot out for 101 in reply to Devon's first innings total of 226 all out.

   Bishop was left out of the side that defeated Cornwall at St Austell two weeks ago and knew he was bowling for a place in the side to play in next month's Minor Counties final against the eventual Eastern Division winners.

   Sidmouth's Matt Webb was preferred ahead of Bishop against Cornwall and it was between him and Bishop who would partner Sandford's Trevor Anning in the final.

   Webb isn't playing in this game and, after Bishop's virtuoso performance, is unlikely to make the 11 for the final either.

   Skipper Bob Dawson said Bishop's performance must have been “one of the best ever by a Devon bowler” and he's spot on. Jack Kelly took all ten against Berkshire on 1961 while only Peter Roebuck (1994) and George Hawkesworth (1902) are in the record books for nine-wicket hauls.

   As for Bishop, he appeared genuinely overwhelmed by it all.

   “I never thought I would do better than eight for 99 against Cornwall – and I can't see myself ever doing anything better than this,” said Bishop.

   “It's been coming out nicely for the last few matches and I have had a pretty good weekend all-round, what with seven wickets for Budleigh in the league.”

   Bishop was also quick to thank his close fielders for holding on to seven catches of his bowling.

   Until Bishop got into his stride there had been a definite end-of-season air to proceedings as there was nothing at stake for either side – and at times it showed.

   There were occasions before lunch when Devon seemed to be treating it as a one-day game, not a three-dayer, as a succession of batsman played their most extravagant shots as if their lives depended on it.

   The pitch was lively thanks to the recent damp spell and Devon's batsmen appeared to take the view they might as well chance their arm rather than perish playing defensively.

   Having already won the Western Division by beating Cornwall, Dawson was aiming to lead the side to an unprecedented sixth successive win.

   Since the Minor Counties competition switched from nine two-day games to six three-day games in 2001, no county has won all six. By close of play last night, Devon were on course to become the first as they led by 137 runs with all 10 second innings wickets intact having reached 12 without loss second time around.

   Devon raced to 170 for four prior to lunch – a frantic pace in three-day cricket – with

   Hancock blazing a 40-ball 50 not out. Hancock scored 48 of his 50 in boundaries, largely off the bowling of slow bowlers Tudge and O'Shea.

   Most of the rest got in, got a few and got out again – Richard Foan's 39 the best of the rest - with Dawson the only batter to miss out completely when he was caught at slip for two.

   Hancock went in the first over after lunch, he was caught spooning the ball high to point, followed by David Court for 19 without further addition.

   Rob Gear (25) and Anning (22) added 48 for the seventh wicket, but Gear's demise at 218 was the beginning of the end for Devon.

   Andy Procter came and went in another two balls and the next over started with Trevor Anning falling to a brilliant sprawling catch at cover. Tudge claimed last man Arwyn Jones caught and bowled to finish with five for 69, which was some compensation for the punishment he took earlier.

   Devon 226 (N D Hancock 50, R J Foan 39, N C Bettis 28; K D Tudge 5-69) & 12-0, Wales 101 (B J Wright 21; I E Bishop 9-35). Bonus points: Devon (6pts), Wales (4).