Devon Cricket Board - Devon 'chasing' improbable target at Colwall

Devon 'chasing' improbable target at Colwall

DEVON have been set an improbable 390 to win in two full sessions on the final day of their Minor Counties Championship game against Herefordshire at Colwall.
Herefordshire, who were 168 for three overnight, declared their second innings closed during lunch on 347 for eight to lead by 389 overall.

There are at least 51 overs to be bowled before the last hour starts at 5.30, from when another 17 have to be squeezed in.

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

And on the flattest of pitches that would seem unlikely in two sessions given the evidence of the game so far.

However, Stebbings did get his spinners into the action early when Devon batted first time round and could get another nine or ten overs in if he does the same again.

Herefordshire did have Devon struggling at 59 for five on day two, but by sound application and occupation of the crease they recovered to make 302 all out. An unbeaten century from Devon skipper Josh Bess gave Devon a respectable total.

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

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

Stebbings and Dan Cox hoisted another 52 runs for the sixth wicket before David 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 Rob Holman.

Nipesh 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)

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