Devon Cricket Board - Devon win after a struggle

Devon win after a struggle

DEVON v CHESHIRE – DAY THREE

Day One | Day Two | Podcast

DEVON stay second in the Minor Counties Western Division table following a hard-earned three-wicket win over Cheshire at Torquay yesterday.

Berkshire remain on top of the table after they swept aside Wiltshire to make it three wins on the bounce at the top of the table.

Devon dropped two points on Berkshire by missing out on first innings batting points and are 16 behind the leaders.

At times against Cheshire yesterday Devon looked in danger of letting the game get away from them.

Devon resumed their second innings on 30 for two with a target of 91 to win – and lurched from 44 for four to 85 for six then 89 for seven before a sneaky four through the slips won the match.

It took Devon 42.5 overs to make 91 to win and given the low-scoring nature of the game it is inevitable the Minor Counties Cricket Association will be asking questions about the pitch.

Only one scores above 50 was made in the match, by Devon opener Rob Holman, whose patient 38 on the last day was the difference between the two sides. Holman was a third choice selection to open the batting, but is unlikely to be viewed as a make-up player when the next side is picked.

Match officials Roger Tolchard and Graham Callaway stopped short of marking the pitch unfit for Minor County cricket, but took the unusual step of creating a new category of below average in their report.

Holman faced 128 balls making 38, which contained seven fours and just 15 scoring shots in total. That’s a lot of leaves and dot balls.

Devon captain Neil Hancock was in at the end having seen Holman go earlier to a catch in the slips. He said the importance of Holman’s innings could not be underestimated.

“Devon have a lot of batsmen who like to play their shots and get on with it, which is fine on good tracks with the ball coming on to the bat,” said Hancock.

“When conditions are less helpful you need a different approach and Rob certainly gave us that.

“It helps to know what balls to leave well alone in case they clip the edge and that’s what Rob judged so well.

“Knocking off the runs was hard work, but without Rob’s innings it would have been a lot harder.”

Devon set off briskly with a couple of boundaries, then Bob Dawson, five not out overnight, was bowled for 14 with the score on 39.

Next man in Josh Bess didn't last long as he was caught at slip for five, leaving Devon 44 for five.

David Lye hit two cracking fours through point off the lively Jamie Warrington, then succumbed next ball when his off-stump was plucked out and deposited on the ground.

Hancock was next in and supported Holman by simply staying there, which is not his natural game.

With victory in sight Holman had a near miss when he almost chopped the ball from Richard Logan on to his stumps and had to kick it away. The very next ball found the edge and Holman was caught at slip for 38.

Hancock got the target down to two when he drilled Warrington through point for four. The drama continued when Sandy Allen was out first ball of the next over, caught in the slips trying to run the ball down to third man.

Three balls later Trevor Anning snicked Logan through the slips for the match winning boundary.

Devon now have a 10-break from Minor Counties action before the campaign resumes against Wiltshire on July 24.

If Devon keep winning, the game against Berkshire at Sidmouth in the final round of fixtures could have the title riding on it.

Cheshire 191 (J A Duffy 33, R J Logan 37; T S Anning 4-28, D F Lye 3-15) & 135 (R M Wilkinson 32; C Bradley 6-31, T S Anning 2-22), Devon 237 (R J Holman 64, M W Thompson 44, D F Lye 37; D A Woods 3-52) & 93-7 (R J Holman 38; A J Syddall 3-33). Devon (22pts) bt Cheshire (5) by 3 wkts.

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