DAY TWO – MONDAY, AUGUST 21

NEIL Hancock thrashed a third century in four trips to the crease as Devon tightened their grip on the game against Wales at Exmouth.

   The Paignton captain scored back-to-back unbeaten tons in the win over Cornwall two weeks ago – the first time a Devon batsman had achieved the feat – and warmed up on day one against Wales with a quickfire 50.

   Yesterday Hancock went all the way to his century before he was the last man out for 106 in a Devon total of 296 all out, which gave them an overall lead of 421. By close of play, Wales had cut the deficit to 296.

   Hancock did well to reach his century as he was on 60 when Ian Bishop was ninth out two balls after coming in to bat.

   Last man Arwyn Jones blocked for all he was worth at the other end while Hancock flogged his way to his century in a flurry of booming drives.

   Arron Shindler suffered the worst as he went for 31 in two overs when Hancock was in full cry. Some of his bowling bordered on junk, which must have made Andy Procter and Bishop wonder how they had got out to it.

   Shindler was sent out to deep extra-cover to lick his wounds after Hancock had mauled him, but there was no respite out there even when Jamie Harris replaced him in the attack.

   Harris bowled, Hancock drove and Shindler dived over the ball trying to stop it as it rolled past him for four. Two balls later Hancock smashed Harris back over his head for six to bring up three figures.

   By the time Harris bowled Hancock the Aussie big-hitter had put away six sixes and 12 fours and added on 53 for the tenth wicket with Jones, whose contribution was just two not out.

   Wales won't want reminding they dropped Hancock twice before he had got to 40.

   Before Hancock cut loose there was a typically bright and breezy knock from skipper Bob Dawson, who hit 48 of his first 50 in boundaries and finished up with 77.

   Dawson and Hancock rattled up 93 for the fifth wicket, which got Devon over a below-par start that had seen some uninspired batting contributing to a running total of 86 for four.

   Sandy Allen swatted at a Harris bouncer he should have left alone and was given out caught behind, a decision he possibly didn't agree with! Harris knocked over Richard Foan's stumps then Rob Gear was beaten for pace, got an edge and was caught at slip.

   Hancock arrived hard on the heels of the departing Neil Bettis, who had scratched around for a laborious 13 and never looked comfortable against the Wales spinners.

   Any hopes Devon might have harboured of wrapping up the game inside two days were thwarted by Wales opener Gareth Rees, who made a studious half-century in the final session last night.

   Mike O'Shea, promoted to open as he had to leave early to link up with the Glamorgan 1 st XI team playing a Twenty20 game against Derbyshire tonight, was first out lbw to Hancock with the score on 29.

   Trevor Anning and Hancock knocked over Rhidian Harries and Willy Bragg on 58 and 59 respectively, but any hopes of Wales collapsing as they had on day one, when Bishop took nine for 35 to bowl them out for 101, ended there.

   Rees (62no) and Ben Wright (35no) batted through to the close as Wales reached 125 for three.

   Devon 226 (N D Hancock 50, R J Foan 39, N C Bettis 28; K D Tudge 5-69) & 296 (N D Hancock 106, R I Dawson 77; A C Shingler 3-59), Wales 101 (B J Wright 21; I E Bishop 9-35) & 125-3 (G P Rees 62no, B J Wright 35no; N D Hancock 2-24). Bonus points: Devon (6pts), Wales (4).

Day one