Devon Cricket Board - Devon lead by 433 going into final day

Devon lead by 433 going into final day

DAY ONE

MATT Thompson stroked his second century of the match as Devon took a vice-like grip of proceedings against Oxfordshire at Exmouth.

Oxfordshire were 89 for one in their second innings at close of play last night – needing another 433 to win in three sessions today to win the match.

The man out was opener Joe Barrett, who was caught at slip off Josh Bess for five.

The main reason Devon are so far in front is the battering Thompson gave them not once, but twice.

Thompson, 120 not out in the first innings, went in second time around when Devon were 24 for one after the early loss of opener Rob Woodman.

Devon were already 152 runs ahead on the first innings scores having dismissed Oxfordshire for 81 in reply to their own 233 all out.

Thompson dominated a second-wicket stand of 103 with surviving opener Rob Holman, making 65 of the runs added before Holman went for 35.

David Lye was the brisker partner in a fourth-wicket stand of 92, before he went for 66 off 45 balls with the score on 219 for three.

Thompson was only ten runs short of his ton when Lye got out and didn’t hang about chalking off the last three.

He went from 92 to 99 in an over and a half, then spent three balls on 99 before flicking Richard Kaufman down to fine-leg to pass a hundred for the second time in the match.

Scoring two centuries in the same game is a rarity in any form of cricket and has only been done twice before by Devon players – both times by former captains.

Bob Dawson did it against Wales in 2004 and Neil Hancock followed suit against Cornwall in 206 and was undefeated both times.

Thompson is already in the record books as the youngest player to make a century for Devon, which he did aged 18 years and 206 days in 2010 against Herefordshire.

Thompson said his second ton of the match was made easier by having hit one already in the first innings.

“I wouldn’t say it was a case of picking up where I left off in the first innings, but having had a long knock then definitely helped,” said Thompson.

“The second ton was a bit quicker, which had a lot to do with Oxfordshire being a bit more positive about getting through the overs.

“When you bat for a long time you have to stay concentrated, and that was a struggle at times.

“I went through a patch of wanting to whack every ball out of the ground for six and had to rein myself in a bit.

“You need a bit of luck too – the snicks that don’t go to hand, the lbw shouts that go your way – and I had a couple of those.

“It’s hard work scoring two tons one after the other, knackering in fact.

“The important thing now is to go on and win the game as we are in a great position to do it.”

Earlier, skipper Josh Bess, who had four wickets overnight, took two more and there was one each for Trevor Anning and Matt Kidd as Oxfordshire collapsed

First to go was Richard Cook, who was caught behind when Anning found the edge with 13 added to the overnight total.

Next to go was Chad Keegan, who prodded Kidd to David Lye in the gulley.

Bess knocked over the stragglers, claiming Luke Ryan to a catch at point by Matt Golding, then snaring Karl Penhale lbw.

Bess finished with six for 25, a new career best bowling performance for Devon, but opted against enforcing the follow-on even though Wales were more than 150 behind on first innings.

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