Devon Cricket Board - Holman and Lye lead Devon resistance

Holman and Lye lead Devon resistance

DEVON have got one more session to hold against Herefordshire at Colwall to salvage a draw from the game.
Herefordshire, who were 168 for three overnight, declared their second innings closed during lunch on 347 for eight to lead by 389 overall.

Devon were left a minimum of 51 overs plus 17 in the last hour to either survive or embark on an unlikely run chase. They were 146 for four at tea with around 29 overs to go.

As Herefordshire skipper Ben Stebbings has deployed his spinners more than his seamers so far, the over-rate is chugging along ahead of schedule and he might slip a few more in before the last hour starts at 5.30.

Whether Stebbings batted on too long remains to be seen as to win the game he has to bowl Devon out.

Callum Whittaker was Devon’s first casualty after lunch when he drive Brad Wadlan to Stebbings at cover.

Next out was Seb Benton, who was on a pair after a first-innings duck and couldn’t avoid it as he jabbed his third ball back to bowler Mike O’Shea.

Devon were 54 for two when they lost Benton and another wicket then could have been troublesome.

Surviving opener Rob Holman and David Lye rolled their sleeves up to put on 82 for the third wicket without further incident.

The partnership was broken by Holman was caught off Wadlan by Nipesh Patel at leg-slip for 70.

Lye went seven balls later: lbw to Powell for 52 off 51 balls.

Skipper Josh Bess and Sandy Allen saw Devon through to tea.

Herefordshire, who were 168 for three overnight, lost O’Shea nine balls into the morning session when he was caught at short leg off Chris Bradley without adding to his score of 83 not out.

A 55-run stand between Wadlan and Stebbings ended when the former was bowled by Bradley for 44, leaving Herefordshire 227 for five.

Stebbings and Dan Cox hoisted another 52 runs for the sixth wicket before Lye made a breakthrough. Stebbings tried to hit Lye down the ground and was caught at long on by Seb Benton for 42.

Chris Powell was in and out for two – trapped lbw by Trevor Anning – then Dan Cox tried to pull Bradley over midwicket and was caught in the deep by Holman.

Patel (20) and Nick Powell (16) were the not out batsmen at the declaration.

It was a gruelling session for Devon’s bowlers, none more so than former captain Chris Bradley who finished with figures of five for 125 from 32 overs – 18 last night, 14 today – which gives him a combined analysis of 61-10-212-7 for the match.

Herefordshire 344-7 (B R W Stebbings 133, D J M Cox 80no, C A M Walker 57; J J Bess 2-32, C Bradley 2-87), & 347-8 (M O’Shea 83, B R W Stebbings 42, D J M Cox 52, C A M Walker 34; C Bradley 5-125, T S Anning 2-430), Devon 302 (J J Bess 113no; R W Davies 63. A P W Allen 42; B L Wadlan 7-121) & 146-4 (R J Holman 70; D F Lye 52).

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