Devon Cricket Board - Devon 106 behind going into final day

Devon 106 behind going into final day

DEVON reached 259 for nine before the overs ran out in the first innings of the game against Shropshire at Exmouth, which left them 24 runs behind.

Having needed 10 overs in the morning session to get the last four Shropshire batters out, Devon made it to 115 in reply before losing a wicket.

Five wickets went for 22 runs as Devon collapsed to 137 for five with half-centurions James Burke and Rob Holman among the casualties.

Burke was unbeaten on 54 and Holman 43 not out in a lunchtime score of 104 for none. Burke reached his half century off 73 balls with nine fours in the book.

Holman went on to reach his 50 after lunch, then got out five balls later when he went back to Jono Whitney and was given out lbw.

Then it all started to go wrong. Rob Woodman only lasted two balls before he was given out lbw to Whitney.

Burke fell next on 126, caught at point, off Whitney, and David Lye didn't last much longer. He was bowled by Whitney for nine.

Former captain Bob Dawson got off the mark with a boundary, the got out in the next over when Neil Saker knocked over his middle stump.

When Thompson went in, Devon were 137 for five, having lost all five wickets for 22 runs. Whitney had four of them for 29 runs.

Matt Thompson and Josh Bess stopped the rot for a while by putting on 37 before Bess was lbw to Matt Downes for 23.

At 191 Devon lost Will Gater leg-before to Andy Gray. Trevor Anning (6) was eighth out at 199 when Gray claimed him lbw, the firth decision of that mature in the innings.

Thompson finished on 49 not out from 116 balls having lost Charles Morris for 11 after tea. Skipper Chris Bradley thrashed 21 not out off 22 balls at the end.

Earlier, Bradley took two more wickets for five in the innings as Devon gave Shrosphire the hurry up in the morning.

Shropshire, 243 for six overnight, were bowled out for 283 in 10.1 overs once play resumed.

Matt Downes, one not out overnight, was first to go when he was caught and bowled by Bradley for 20.

Andy Gray came and went for two - Bradley snared him lbw - then Simon Gregory was run out for 45 by a throw from Bob Dawson in the gully.

Last man Martin Delaney was caught and bowled by Anning.

Bradley finished with five for 89 from 26 overs while Anning took three for 65.

Shropshire were 75 for five after 37 overs with Bradley taking four wickets and David Lye the fifth. They closed on 82 for five, a lead of 106 going into the final day

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