Devon Cricket Board - Devon win by four wickets

Devon win by four wickets

CHRIS Bradley finished with 12 wickets in the game as Devon went on to beat Shropshire by four wickets at Exmouth today.
But the run chase ran into difficulty with outright victory in sight as Devon dipped from 153 for two to 166 for five chasing a modest 182 to win.

Bradley, five for 89, in the first innings, took seven for 47 second time around as Shropshire were bowled out for 157.

That left Devon more than two full sessions to make 182 to win on the last day and at lunch they were 43 for one.

Devon's man out was Rob Woodman, who was caught in the covers by Matt Delaney off Andy Gray.

in the seven overs after lunch Bob Dawson 17 and James Burke (12) pushed the score along gently to 58 for one.

With no pressure on them time wise, Devon were able to meander along without taking risks. After 37 overs Dawson (27) and Burke (48) had advanced the score to 110 for one.

Burke reached his second 50 in the game with a boundary in the next over and was later 55 not out in Devon's total of 118 for one.

Shropshire brought Richard Oliver into the attack and he took a wicket with the second ball he bowled - Dawson lbw for 28. It was the 13th lbw decision given in the game.

Rob Holman got off the mark first ball with a four through cover point.

After 40 overs Devon were 130 for two with Burke on 61 not out, which included a huge hit for six over mid-wicket off Jamie Ralph.

Ralph came in for some stick in his last two overs as Burke went after him and reached 78 in a total of 155 for two. Holman was 14 not out.

Burke looked like batting though to the finish when he was deceived in the air by Oliver and well stumped down the leg-side by Simon Gregory.

Gregory struck again on 161 when Holman was caught swishing at Martin Delaney. Five runs later David Lye went after Delaney and gave a routine catch to Tom Collins at point.Devon needed nine to win when Matt Thompson went caught behind to Richard Oliver (3-27) and Josh Bess got most of them in a harum-scarum dash to victory.

When Shropshire resumed back in the morning session Bradley got out Collins early on to take his fifth wicket in the second dig.

Also out early in the morning session was Andrew Gray, who was run out for seven when Sam Gregory sent him back and he didn't make it.
Trevor Anning returned to the attack to trap Mark Downes lbw for 17.
Then Bradley made it a spanking six of the best when he had SImon Gregory caught behind for 37.
Last pair Neil Saker and Delaney held Devon up for six runs before Bradley had Delaney stumped at 157.
Bradley's figures in the innings were seven for 42, which gave him 12 for 131 in the match.
Bradley is the first Devon bowler to take 12 in a match since Andy Procter took Herefordshire apart at Torquay in 2006.

Shropshire 283 (R K Oliver 58, C P Murtagh 66; C Bradley 5-89, T S Anning 3-65,) & 157 (S M Gregory 37; C Bradley 5-42), Devon 259-9 (J E Burke 64, R J Holman 51, M W Thompson 49no; J D Whitney 4-46, A K D Gray 3-68) & 182-6 (J E Burke 78, R I Dawson 28, R J Woodman 25; R K Oliver 3-27). Devon (22pts) bt Shropshire (7) by 4 wkts.

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