Devon Cricket Board - Devon abandon first day against Herefordshire

Devon abandon first day against Herefordshire

DEVON have been forced to abandon the first day of their Minor Counties Championship match against Herefordshire, which was due to start at Sidmouth today.
Friday night’s downpour didn’t just take a toll on yesterday’s Francis Clark Devon League programme, it also put the Sidmouth ground out of action for today and possibly most of tomorrow as well.
Neil Gamble, Devon’s chief executive, said he feared Devon would be reduced to playing a one-day, single-innings match, which they had to do against Wales at Exmouth last month.
‘The ground is very wet and the covers were blown off the county pitch overnight on Friday, so it soaked,’ said Gamble.
‘There are pools on the croquet lawns and the odd duck-pond patches around the outfield.
‘If it stops raining and there is little precipitation, we may play on Monday.
‘However, my best guess is that we could possibly finish up with a Wales-type one-innings-a-side game on late Monday and Tuesday.’
Devon, defending Minor Counties Champions, really don’t want any more trouble with the weather following their experiences so far.
A five-wicket win over Wales for 12 points in a one-innings game at Exmouth and a rain-off against Cornwall at St Austell two weeks ago is all Devon have managed so far.
The good news for Devon is that almost everyone else in the Western Division has met the same, soggy fate so far, with the notable exception of Shropshire.
The Midlanders have played one full, two-innings game to a finish, which is why they top the table on 28 points, ahead of Wiltshire in second on 21 and Devon (3rd) on 19.
If Devon harbour genuine hopes of retaining the title they have start winning and keep the habit up until the meet Shropshire at Whitchurch in the last day of the season.
A defeat against Herefordshire would not be terminal, but would leave Devon playing catch-up cricket.
‘It is vital we defeat Herefordshire to keep Shropshire as close as possible and put them under pressure,’ said Devon skipper Chris Bradley.
‘Saying we need a win and actually getting one aren’t the same thing though, particularly when you haven’t played that much cricket.’
Bradley will be playing against the advice of Devon physiotherapist Jamie Burton, who has told him to take a month off to get over a shoulder problem.
Said Bradley: ‘Wear and tear over the years, mainly cricket but also from my rugby days, means I have got six surgical screws holding one of my shoulders together.
‘One of the screws has come out and the advice from Jamie is to take a month off and get it sorted.
‘As we are coming up to the busiest time of the Minor Counties season, I can’t really do that.
‘Jamie has been brilliant doing what he can to keep me playing. I will worry about it when the season is over.’
Devon have gone for 11 of the 12 who went to St Austell with Matt Golding the odd one out.
Exam commitments prevented the Bradninch all-rounder going to Wheal Eliza, but he returns at the expense of Jack Dart.
Devon have high hopes of Golding, whose leg-spin makes him a useful weapon in the attack.
Devon: J E Burke (Budleigh), R J Woodman (Taunton), R J Holman (Exeter), D F Lye (Exmouth), J J Bess (Sidmouth), S R Benton (Paignton), M W Thompson (Torquay), C Bradley, P Bradley, R J Bougourd (all Bovey ), T S Anning (Exmouth), M C Golding (Bradninch).
Herefordshire: D J R Exall, B Stebbings, S J Adshead. C W Boroughs, B L Wadlan, C A M Walker, A J Kimberlin, T C Austwick, N J Powell G W B Leighton, C M Stewart, H Patel.
Umpires: M Dobbs & C Jones

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