Devon Cricket Board - New one-day best for Anning

New one-day best for Anning

TUESDAY, MAY 11

THAT’S more like it! Devon got their Minor Counties Cup campaign back on track with an 80-run win over Wales at Exeter.

   Opener Chris Mole stroked 88 – and would almost certainly have made a ton had he not played a horrible hoik going for a second six in a row and missed!

   Bob Dawson and David Lye both chipped in with 33 as Devon posted 246 for six in 50 overs against a youthful Wales team, with an average age of 18 years and three months.

   Wales were bowled out for 166 in reply with seamer Trevor Anning the star man with the ball. He took five for 27 – his first five-wicket haul for Devon in the competition. His previous best was four for 17 against Wiltshire in 2008.

   Josh Bess made a decent job as a new- ball replacement for Lewis Gregory, who was on Somerset duty, and recalled seamer Scott Barlow had two for 22 in 7.5 overs. Considering 10 of those runs were slogged by Aneurin Norman as he went from 41 to 51 in two hits before running out of partners at the other end, that was pretty good bowling by Barlow.

   Spinner Chris Metters had two more wickets for 27 runs. The Wales tail-enders struggled to lay a bat on the left-arm spinner at times.

   Wales are, for all practical purposes, part of Glamorgan’s Academy net work and are in the competition as part of the development process. Hence the young average age.

   Devon can only beat what is in front of them though, which included a couple of England U19 caps, and from that point of view it was a job well done. The defeat by Cornwall seven days earlier was anything but.

   All that remains now is for Devon to beat pool leaders Wiltshire at Trowbridge this Sunday and wait and see if that’s enough to get into the last-eight knockout stages.

   “It is possible three teams could finish level on three wins each, then the two who go through will be decided on net run-rate,” said Devon’s technical director Roger Newman.

   “On the strength of this performance I would be confident of beating Wilthishire, but certainly not complacent.

   “There were two outstanding performers – Chris Mole and Trevor Anning – but this was a good team showing all round.

   “Dan Bowser saw off the new ball with Chris, which enabled us to take on their change bowlers with wickets in hand.

   “Bob Dawson and Dave Lye both made batting contributions that cannot be underestimated.

   “Sandy Allen had an outstanding game behind the stumps, that always lifts the bowlers, and our fielding was spot on.

   “Josh Bess bowled well with the new ball and we got what we expected from Scotty Barlow and Metters.”

   Devon left out Bovey Tracey Chris Bradley on the morning off the match when he turned up with a shoulder strain that made it painful for him to bowl. Anning ran in despite a hamstring strain that required heavy strapping to get him through the game.

   Newman is hoping both are fit and that Gregory is free of Somerset commitments to play against Wiltshire.

   Devon 246 (C M Mole 88, R I Dawson 33, D F Lye 33; R A J Smith 3-69), Wales 166 (D S Roberts 45, A J Norman 51no; T S Anning 5-49). Devon (2pts) bt Wiltshire (0) by 80 runs.

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