Devon Cricket Board - Hancock praises Barlow for role in Wilts win

Hancock praises Barlow for role in Wilts win

SKIPPER Neil Hancock praised Scott Barlow for his overall contribution to the 118-run win over Wiltshire at Corsham, which kept Devon’s Western Division title hopes alive.

Devon left Wiltshire an hour on the second day and all the last one to either survive, or make 494 to win.

A battling 164 from Tim Morton anchored a Wilts’ reply which threatened to outlast the time available for a bowl out.

Hancock got Morton in the end – three and half hours after he went in at 119 for five – and from then on it was downhill all the way for Wiltshire.

Barlow and Trevor Anning finished with three wickets each while Hancock and Chris Bradley bagged two. Bovey spinner Bradley nipped out Paul Robbins at the end to win it.

Barlow went into the game as a stop-gap having generally been used by Devon as a one-day player in the past.

Having taken two three-wicket hauls in the match, and scored a fine 50 coming in at number 10 in the second innings, Hancock admitted Devon may have to review the way they look at Barlow.

“There were a lot of big performances over three days, but Scott really was in the thick of it,” said Hancock.

“I would have settled for two lots of three wickets, but the 50 he scored in the second innings was really important.

“Our last pair – Scott and Chris Bradley – put on 69, which really took the game away from Wiltshire,

“We had so many runs on the board I could set attacking fields throughout the final day and that was how we won the game.

“Almost all the wickets went caught behind or caught at slip, because we were able to attack the batsmen and not worry about the odd ball going for four.”

Anning was praised for another solid performance with the ball, which started at the end of day two when he knocked over both Wiltshire openers.

“Trevor has been taking wickets with the new ball all season, which puts the opposition under pressure,” said Hancock. “He is also bowling good second spells and taking extra wickets then.”

Victory keeps Devon second in the table behind Berkshire, who beat Herefordshire in two days to open up a 24-point lead at the top of the table.

There are two games and 48 points to play for in the division, which ends at Sidmouth in August when Devon host Berkshire.

Berkshire could have the title sewn up by then, but Hancock is promising them a fight to the finish.

“Berkshire are playing some good cricket, which you would expect with players like Shaun Udal in the side, but until we play them there is nothing we can do about that,” said Hancock.

“Whatever the situation when we get to Sidmouth, we will be going all out to beat them.”

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773