Devon Cricket Board - Bess and Burke join ton-up club

Bess and Burke join ton-up club

JAMES Burke hit his maiden Minor Counties century as Devon piled up the runs against Berkshire at Finchampstead.
Burke had a near miss last season when he made 96 against Oxfordshire at Great Tew.
It was a day for firsts as Josh Bess made his maiden Devon century as well in a stand of 232 with Burke that helped post a total of 354 for six
The pair came together after tea on the first day when Devon were 70 for three and carried on bating until lunch was cleared away on day two.
Josh Bess was two short of his first Devon ton at the break, but reached it soon after by hammering Gurveer Singh down the ground for four.
Had they managed another 31 runs between them, a county batting record which has stood since 1949 of 262 for the fourth wicket would have fallen,
It wasn’t to be though as Burke got out on 144 looking to add to his tally off 13 fours and a six by hitting left-arm spinner Gurveer Singh down the ground. He missed and Singh hit the middle and leg stumps.
Burke faced 226 balls in a 262-minute stay and of the 13 fours he hit one off ex-England spinner Sean Udal brought up his ton.
Burke offered one real chance on 120 when he could have been caught at deep mid-wicket having a swipe at Chris Peploe.
Bess was on 99 when Burke got out and became a little jittery for an over or so before launching Singh wide of mid-off to claim his ton.
Besss went on to reach 115 before he fell caught behind in the penultimate over.
Matt Thompson chipped in with a bright and breezy 24 off 20 balls at the end.
Having bowled Berkshire out for 187 first time around, Devon were 167 ahead going into the second innings.
By close of play Berkshire had whittled the deficit down to five thanks to an unbeaten 81 from David Barnes and a half century from skipper Bjorn Mordt.
Berkshire 187 (C T Peploe 50; C Bradley 4-59) & 162-1 (D E Barnes 81, B H D Mordt 51), Devon 354-5 (J E Burke 144, J J Bess 115). Bonus points: Devon 8, Berkshire 3.

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