Woodman in for final game

DEVON captain Josh Bess hopes to see all the best parts of the season woven together in the final game of the campaign.

Oxfordshire are the visitors for three days at Sidmouth starting tomorrow in a game with little at stake for either side.

The best Devon can hope for this season is fourth in the table while Oxfordshire could make it as high as fifth if they win and Herefordshire lose to Wiltshire

Cheshire will be crowned Western Division champions if they beat Shropshire at Nantwich.

Bess took over midway through the season when Chris Bradley stepped down due to outside pressures.

The new captain’s record is one of each so far – a draw with Herefordshire, a win against Wiltshire and a loss against Cheshire – in what is a transitional season for Devon.

Devon have played well at times, but not always long enough to impose themselves on games.

Bess sees the game against Oxfordshire as the chance to pull all the parts together.

“In patches we have played some fantastic cricket, but not always fro the word go,” sad Bess.

“Although we lost against Cheshire, there was a great knock from Dave Lye when we were chasing and as long as he is there you are always in with a chance.

“Mark Orchard had a fantastic spell against Wales, again in a game we lost, and Chris Bradley was superb in the game against Herefordshire.

“Chris and Trevor Lye have been fantastic all season with the ball.

“It would be nice in our last game if we can put it all together and get on the front foot from the start. Then we can see what this side can really do.”

Bess was a bit too modest to mention it, but his own contribution deserves more than just a nod.

He is averaging 77.42 with the bat from a tally of 541 runs that included a ton against Wiltshire. Bess the bowler has 15 wickets at 25.6 each.

Devon originally named an unchanged 12 to play Oxfordshire, but were forced to make a late change when opener James Burke dropped out to play for Somerset 2nd XI.

Left-hander Rob Woodman comes in to go in first with Robert Holman, making it six different opening partnerships in as many games this season.

Woodman was a regular in the three-day side until last season when work commitments began getting in the way.

The choice for Bess and director of cricket Keith Donohue will be who to leave out.

The odds are it will be a straight choice between left-arm spinner Will Squire, who played against Cheshire, or seamer Matt Kidd who didn’t.

Devon (from): RT J Woodman (Taunton), R J Holman (Exeter), M W Thompson (Torquay), D F Lye (Exmouth), J J Bess (Sidmouth), A P W Allen (Exmouth), R W Davies (Tavistock), T S Anning (Exmouth), C Bradley, M C Golding (both Bovey), W D Squire (Bradninch), M J L Kidd (Budleigh).

Oxfordshire: D C Shirazi, J H Barrett, L M Sabin, R I Kaufman, J A Cater (wkt), J C R West, M A Beard, C B Keegan, L C Ryan, F W Vainker, K W Penhale, P P White.

Umpires: C Jones & M P Dobbs.


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