- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
Devon Surrender Minor Counties Cup
SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2009
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DEVON skipper Bob Dawson had no complaints at all about the five-wicket defeat by Staffordshire that cost his side their hold on the Minor Counties Trophy.
Devon made the long trek to Leek in north Staffordshire overnight for a re-match with the side they defeated in the 1992 final of the same competition.
Dawson won the toss, trophy holders Devon batted and were bowled out for 131 with more than 13 of their 50 overs to go. Rob Holman’s 54 was as good as it got.
Staffs had one blip along the way – when they lost three wickets for two runs and found themselves 83 for five – but skipper Paul Goodwin stayed calm and led his side home with an unbeaten 32. David Wheeldon (30) was the other not out batsman.
Dawson said if he had his time over again he probably would have fielded first, but hindsight is always 20-20 vision.
“The pitch did a lot more than I expected as the longer the game went on the slower it became,” said Dawson.
“Had we made 180 or 190 batting first I am convinced that would have been a winning score. We didn’t get anywhere near that and all I can say is they bowled well and we batted badly.
“I was pleased that we made them fight for it though as when they lost three wickets close together we had then wobbling.
“In the next over we were confident Wheeldon was caught behind of Neil Hancock, but it wasn’t given.
“Sandy was standing up to Hanks so if there was any deviation off the edge it would have been hard for the umpire to judge it.
“Had we go that wicket though we could still have won it. Ninety for six is a real wobble and the time when you find out how good their bowlers are at batting.
“We will never know the answer to that one though as their skipper (Goodwin) batted sensibly and saw them through.”
Devon opener Chris Mole had a rare off day – caught by ex-Warwickshire and Derbyshire medium pacer Mo Sheikh off Will Purser, then Dawson was caught at slip off the same bowler.
Holman and a subdued Neil Hancock pushed the score along to 54 for three before Sheikh bowled Hancock for nine.
David Court was in and out for seven – Sheikh had him caught at slip as well – then left-hander Holman was winkled out caught behind by the same bowler.
Left-armer Greg Willott cut the ball in to snare David Lye lbw for 10 and Trevor Anning for a dozen. Gareth Morris bowled Allen for one.
Tail-ender Scott Barlow made 15, but with Morris striking twice at the other end he ran out of people to bat with towards the end of the 37th over.
Peter Wishaw (21) and Jack Manuel (21) got Staffs away to a 42-run start that ended when Hancock had Wishaw caught behind by Allen.
Manuel went two runs later trying to loft Ian Bishop over cover and finding Lye instead.
Wheeldon, on Worcestershire’s books this season, was next in and stayed there for the duration.
Staffs could not afford to get complacent as when Barlow had Richard Harvey caught behind two more wickets went in quick succession.
Anning trapped Ben McGuire on the crease and repeated the trick next ball to remove Sheikh lbw as well.
Goodwin survived the hat-trick ball and went on to see Staffs home early in the 34th over.
Devon 131 (R J Holman 54; M A Sheikh 3-20, G D Morris 3-27), Staffordshire 132-5 (D A Wheeldon 30no, P S J Goodwin 32no; T S Annning 2-36). Staffordshire bt Devon by 5 wkts.