- 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
Toms takes debut ton off Wales
DEVON batsman James Toms joined an exclusive group of players when he took a maiden century off Wales at Usk.
Toms, who forced his way into the side on sheer weight of runs scored for club side Plymouth this season, was out for a five-ball duck in the first innings.
Second time around the 29 year old made 105 in just over three hours to help hold Devon’s innings together.
This time it was Peter Bradley, Callum Whittaker and David Lye who missed out as Devon laboured early on to wipe out a 59-run first-innings shortfall.
Toms’ century – only the seventh scored by a batsman on debut since Devon joined the Minor Counties Championship in 1901 – helped achieve a total of 217 for six going into the final day.
Toms said getting out cheaply in the first innings acted as a spur when he went out again.
“It was nice to be added to the list after my less than successful day one,” said Toms.
“I wasn’t too nervous – I would have been much worse a few years ago – but felt alright.
“It should be a good last day – evenly poised – although we could have done without losing late wickets.”
Devon didn’t have the best of finishes to the day as they lost three wickets in as many overs starting with Toms.
After Toms hit one up in the air and was caught by Wales captain Darren Thomas at short extra-cover, Matt Thompson went lbw for one and Matt Golding was bowled for five.
Josh Bess, who shared in a stand of 131 with Toms for the fourth wicket, was still there at the close on 67.
Bess’s job on the last day is to stick around and wring as many runs as possible out of the last four batters.
As Rhys Davies already has a 50 in this match, and Trevor Anning has got them in the past, it’s not unreasonable for Devon to aim for 300 or even a few more.
It would have helped Devon’s cause had they been able to finish off Wales in the morning session after reducing them to 118 for five overnight.
The first stumbling block was overnight duo Tom Baker and Keiron Bull, who both posted half-centuries.
Getting Baker out did Devon no favours as it exposed their bowlers to former Glamorgan pro Darren Thomas in clinical form.
Thomas lashed 81 off 68 balls with 10 fours and four sixes as he and Bull hoisted 110 in 21 overs for the seventh wicket.
Josh Bess ran-out Thomas on 276, but Bull was still there and nursed the tail along as Wales stretched their lead.
“Wales probably got 50 more than we would have liked, but the pitch was a lot flatter than it was on day one and that helped their batters and not our bowlers,” said Devon’s director of cricket Keith Donohue.
“The two lads in overnight batted well in the morning, then Thomas came in wasted no time getting going.”
Devon 257 (C P Whittaker 68, R W Davies 69, M C Golding 35, J J Bess 28; D P Jones 5-59, K A Bull 2-36) & 217-6 (J A M Toms 105, J J Bess 67no), Wales 316 (J R Murphy 41, T J Baker 50, K A Bull 55, S D Thomas 81; M A Orchard 4-38, D F Lye 2-35). Bonus points: Devon (6), Wales (7).