Devon Cricket Board - Three-wicket burst gives Devon victory

Three-wicket burst gives Devon victory

DEVON finally wrapped up a 118-run win over Wiltshire after a grueling final day in the field at sultry Corsham.

Tim Morton and Owen Alsop slowed Devon's charge to victory against Wiltshire in a stand of 171 which started before lunch and carried on almost until tea.

Alsop went before tea to a slip catch, then Tom Bowler was pouched at mid-wicket trying to work the ball around the corner.

The wicket Devon needed was Morton's which they got on 154 when he nicked a delivery from Scott Barlow to keeper Matt Thompson.

Morton had faced 192 balls in exactly three and a half hours at the crease, hitting 27 fours and three sixes

Tom Bowler - his real name (honest) went soon after to a catch at short mid-wicket, leaving last pair Paul Robbins and Simon Warner the unlikely task of batting around 25 overs to save the game. Chris Bradley (2-69) cleaned out Robbins on 375 and that was that!

Earlier, Wiltshire resumed on 51 for three overnight with 104 overs to survive, or reach 494 to win!

At lunch Wiltshire were 184 for six with Morton 40 not out and Owen Alsop unbeaten on 12.

Skipper Neil Hancock rotated his bowlers regularly, bringing on former England U19 all-rounder Rob Woodman for his first spell of the season as one of the changes.

Woodman was hit for two fours by Morton as Wilts moved to 254 for six with Morton on 91 an Alsop up to 35.

Morton went after Woodman in his next over, smashing him for six then a four three balls later to bring up his century in a total of 269 for six.

Alsop duly competed his half century when he clattered Chris Bradley through the covers for four as Wilts reached 300 for six and the partnership with Morton 154.

Bob Dawson was given a rare bowl in the Championship but his happy knack of partnership breaking had deserted him.

Alsop went on to make a patient 44 as Wilts moved on to 317 before Scott Barlow broke the stand by having him caught at slip by Bob Dawson.

Morton was still there at tea though, unbeaten on 154 in a total of 344 for seven from 100. Devon have around two hours left in which to take three more wickets, or stop Wiltshire making the 150 they need to win.

When play resumed in the morning sesssion Devon opened up with seamer Trevor Anning and spinner Chris Bradley, but neither managed a breakthrough in the first 25 minutes as Wiltshire reached 70 for three.

The break wasn't long coming though as Anning got a ball to jag off the seam and Chris Benham nicked it on the way through to keeper Matt Thompson.

Despite some confident lbw shouts while Anning was bowling, Devon did not take another wicket in the first hour.

Wiltshire moved the score along to 101 for four with left-hander Henry Langford on 33 not out and Joe Breet unbeaten on 16.

Bradley bowled unchanged from the School End but Anning was taken off and replaced by Hancock, who fared no better at first.

David Lye was brought on to vary the pace at the School End after Bradley had bowled 12 overs this morning for innings figures of 14-8-22-1.

Langford, who was not out overnight, perished on 119 when Hancock had him caught in the slips by Dawson for 41 having a flail outside off-stump.

Wiltshire continued with their stubborn defence as Breet and Tim Morton took as few chances as possible.

Scott Barlow replaced Hancock at the Town End and soon had the Devon fielders on their toes as he got the ball past the outside edge.Going into the 41st over of the innings, Wiltshire were 142 for five with half an hour to go before lunch.

With Lye unsuccessful, skipper Hancock turned to Matt Kidd and gave the debutant from Bovey Tracey his first bowl in Minor Counties cricket.

Barlow was next to strike when he chucked the ball up in the blockhole to Breet and was rewarded with an lbw decision, leaving Wiltshire 146 for six 25 minutes before lunch.

Devon 119 (R J Holman 20, D F Lye 27, T S Anning 26; T Afridi 5-34, P J Robbins 2-18) & 474 (D F Lye 104, N D Hancock 84, J E Burke 65, S Barlow 50, R J Holman 45; S R Warner 5-102, T Afridi 3-124), Wiltshire 100 (E R Kilbee 36; N D Hancock 3-22, S Barlow 3-25, C Bradley 2-22) & 375 (T I Morton 167, H J Langford 41, J J Breet 34, O J Alsop 44; T S Anning 3-87, S Barlow 3-51). Devon (20pts) bt Wiltshire (4) by 118 runs.

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