Devon Cricket Board - Thommo ton puts Devon in driving seat

Thommo ton puts Devon in driving seat

MATT Thompson came up with the goods when Devon needed him most with an unbeaten century against Oxfordshire at Sidmouth.

Devon finished with 233 all out – respectable rather than impressive – then let their seamers loose on Oxfordshire’s early order.

The result was carnage as Josh Bess took four for nine and Trevor Anning two for ten as Oxfordshire crumbled to 49 for six at the close.

There were three catches in the slips, two square of the wicket and a Yorker from Bess to dismiss Richard West with the final ball of the day.

Oxfordshire go into the second day 184 runs behind with some serious rebuilding to do.

Devon’s early order batting has been hit and miss for much of the season, a pattern that continued against Oxfordshire.

Thompson went on at ten for one after opener Rob Woodman had been caught down at fine-leg and batted through for the next four hours and 14 minutes for his 120 not out.

Although Thompson played his part well, the rest of the batters only contributed bits and pieces.

Opener Rob Woodman, back in the side to replace the unavailable James Burke, was in and out for four on his return.

Woodman fell to a diving catch out on the boundary by Karl Penhale to give Chad Keegan his first wicket.

Thompson and Rob Holman saw Devon through to lunch at 37 for one off 11 overs without further mishap.

Two overs after the resumption Holman (21) went caught behind to left-arm seamer Mike Beard.

Conditions suited the seamers so Oxfordshire skipper Luke Ryan stuck with them for most of the session.

David Lye (15) played some nice drives before departing caught behind to Keegan.

When skipper Josh Bess was caught behind for 11 off Penhale, Devon were 118 for four in the 32^nd over.

Rhys Davies came and went for nine – the combination of keeper Jonny Cater and Penhale doing for him as well –then Sandy Allen (17) was dismissed lbw by the same bowler.

Matt Golding and Trevor Anning went in consecutive deliveries to Chad Keegan, who zipped the hat-trick ball past Matt Kidd’s outside edge.

A ninth-wicket stand of 45 between Kidd and Thompson got Devon up to 217 for nine and took Thompson to his second Devon century. Three runs more would have been a new personal best.

Kidd went to a low catch at slip then last man Will Squire was run out during a slog at the end.

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