Devon Cricket Board - berksdayone

berksdayone

SUNDAY, JUNE 7
Day Two | Day Three | Podcast

CHRIS Mole hit a century despite needing a runner as Devon dodged the showers long enough to make an imposing 246 for two on the first day of their game against Berkshire.

Overnight rain meant the game started an hour late and it failed to go anywhere near the full distance for the day when the heavens emptied over Falkland CC shortly after 4.30.

In the 57.4 overs of play possible, bat dominated ball, led by Mole with good support from debutant Anthony Griffiths and Rob Holman.

Sidmouth opener Griffiths, called into the side at the last minute, opened his county account with 30 before he fell lbw to Craig Crowe.

Griffiths, a prolific run getter in league cricket, thought his chance of a county call had passed him by years ago but looked pretty well at home after overcoming a few nerves at the start.

“It took me five overs to get off the mark and the fielders were getting a bit chirpy after a while,” said Griffiths.

“Once I got going it felt fine and I was disappointed to get out when I did as there were plenty of runs to be had.”

Griffiths was spot on about the runs available for Devon’s batsmen as Mole and Holman built on the 77-run start on the board by posting another 122 for the second wicket.

Mole offered a difficult chance to mid-off in the 40s, but otherwise barely put a foot wrong during his time in the middle playing the anchorman role.

Holman is the sort of batsman who likes to get on with it and cruised to 66 off 79 balls with 13 fours before getting out.

A delivery from Steve Naylor had a little bit of width and was scooped to Richard Morris at deep point.

Shortly after Holman went Griffiths was back on the square as the runner for Mole, who tweaked a hamstring when he was on 88.

Batting with a runner is never easy as the odds on getting a run-out when three players are involved in the decision making process are always high.

Mole solved that problem by trying to deal in boundaries where he could. At last night’s close he was unbeaten on 127 from 129 balls having hit 23 fours. All the bowlers came in for some stick at times with Richard Logan and James Morris both being hit for three fours in an over by Mole.

Mole only needs another 10 runs today to pass his previous best for Devon. He made 136 against Herefordshire at Torquay in 2003 and has never bettered it despite scoring three other hundreds prior to yesterday.

Devon 246-2 (C M Mole 127no, R J Holman 66, A C Griffiths 30) v Berkshire. Rain stopped play.

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