Devon Cricket Board - Bess burst puts Devon in driving seat

Bess burst puts Devon in driving seat

SKIPPER Josh Bess set the tone with a four-wicket burst as Devon took control against Wiltshire late on the second day.

Devon, 53 for three overnight, trailed by 71 on first innings having been bowled out for 286 between lunch and tea.

Bess steamed in to take four wickets either side of tea as Wiltshire subsided to 35 for five second time around.

Trevor Anning (3-37) and Chris Bradley (3-40) kept chipping away at the middle order and despite some late resistance from Tom Bowler (32) and Jake Roberts (22) Wiltshire were all out for 144.

Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket, said the lower order batsmen kept Devon in the game, allowing Bess and the bowlers to take control.

Devon - 73 for five before lunch - did well to get as close as they did.

Rhys Davies, Sandy Allen, Matt Golding and Trevor Anning revived Devon’s fortunes with some dogged batting down the order.

Devon’s day started on the back foot with nightwatchman Bradley out second ball. Matt Thompson went lbw for 34, which brought Davies out to join Bess.

A stand of 103 ended when Davies was caught behind for 51 – his fourth score of 50 more in successive games for Devon this season.

Bess was caught for 35 soon after by a grabber on the edge of the cut strip, followed by Allen to a good catch at mid-off when he didn’t get his hook shot quite right.

Then came a bonus stand for the ninth wicket between Anning and Golding which will be crucial if Devon go on to win the game today.

Devon had seven overs last night on top of three full sessions today to wipe off 216 to win.

They were well on their way at stumps, reaching 35 for none with Rob Holman (20) and James Toms (15) the undefeated batsmen.

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