Devon Cricket Board - Devon beat Oxfordshire by 116 runs

Devon beat Oxfordshire by 116 runs

DAY THREE

DEVON triumphed in a war of attrition with a gritty Oxfordshire side to win by 116 runs on a gripping last day at Great Tew.
Having been rolled over for 105 in their first innings, Oxfordshire weren’t going to have their tummies tickled again!

Devon needed 114.2 overs to get all ten out a second time and didn’t have long left when Jamie Overton dynamited the stumps of Ashley Blanchard to win the game.

Only 7.4 overs remained in the match that, for a long time, it seemed Oxfordshire were going to bat out for a draw.

A target of 438 to win never looked realistic, but while centurion Alex Jewell stayed in Oxfordshire looked capable of hanging on.

Jewell was finally dismissed by James Burke when the second new ball was taken three overs before the break and from then on Devon had to whittle away the last three wickets.

Jamie Overton took two and twin brother Craig the third to round off an inspiring first joint appearance for Devon by the 17 year olds from Bideford. Between them they took 10 of the 20 wickets to fall, fully vindicating the selectors’ decision to pick them both and drop veteran Ian Bishop.

“We wanted more firepower from our seamers and the Overtons’ figures speak for themselves,” said director of cricket Roger Newman.

Oxfordshire, 32 for one overnight chasing 438 to win, lost surviving opener Lloyd Sabin at the end of the first over of the day when he was caught at slip off Jamie Overton.

Richard West (32) and Alex Jewell added 66 for the next wicket as Devon stuck with the seamers looking for a breakthrough.

A switch to spin brought a wicket when Jewell hit a leg-stump delivery from Chris Bradley to Jamie Overton at mid-on.

The last wicket to go before lunch was that of Chris Watling, who was lbw to the second ball bowled by Burke.

Jamie Overton dispatched David Smith with a slip catch shortly after lunch, fueling Devon hopes of running through the bottom half of the order. It didn't happen. Jewell went on to reach a patient century off 219 balls and the longer he stayed the harder it became for Devon.

Chad Keegan shored up and end for 61 runs with Jewell and never looked like getting out until he was dispatched lbw sweeping Bradley.

Jewell, who went in on day two at the fall of the first wicket, was finally dismissed by Burke for 130.

A width ball proved too tempting to leave alone and Jewell only succeeded in flicking it to Neil Hancock in a three-man slip cordon.

Skipper Ian Hawtin went immediately after the interval when he was bowled by Jamie Overton. Craig had Matt Taylor caught behind swishing, leaving Jamie to wrap it up by removing Blanchard.

Devon 251 (N D Hancock 63, R J Woodman 32, C Overton 26; C B Keegan 6-54) & Devon 291-7 dec (J E Burke 81, R I Dawson 66; D F Lye 36), Oxfordshire105 (A R Blanchard 27; J Overton 3-42, T S Anning 2-19, C Overton 2-10 & 321 (A D Sewell 130, J C R West 32; J Overton 4-34, J E Burke 2-28). Devon (22pts) bt Oxfordshire (4) by 116 runs

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