Devon Cricket Board - Newman sees right signs through the rain!

Newman sees right signs through the rain!

DEVON’S Minor Counties Trophy prospects might be in limbo after a third successive rain-off, but director of cricket Roger Newman isn’t too concerned.

Faced with making 101 to win in 23 overs against Bedfordshire at soggy Bovey Tracey on Monday, the weather closed in on Devon when they were 23 for one in the sixth over.

Had a restart been possible, Devon needed 47 to win in 25 balls using the Duckworth-Lewis Method – a tall order but not impossible.

Newman said although beating Bedfordshire would have helped Devon’s qualification chances, one thing had not changed.

“We can’t win the division now, but we can still qualify in second place,” said Newman.

“To do that we will have to win our game at Oxfordshire in two weeks time, which we would have had to do anyway had we beaten Bedfordshire.

“Either Cornwall or Hertfordshire will win the group as none of the rest of us can catch them. They have to play each other yet, which will decide it.

“So one of them, ourselves of Oxfordshire will finish second. By the time we get to Oxfordshire we will know what we have to do, which will help.

“If more than one of us are level on five points then it will be run rate which decides it.”

Devon stuck Bedfordshire in when the game finally got started more than five hours late and had them reeling at 10 for four after five overs.

Bradninch’s Gary Chappell took two wickets, Trevor Anning had a third and Matt Wood ran out opener Steve Stubbings with an impressive throw from mid-on.

Andy Reynoldson saved Bedfordshire from total collapse by batting through from 10 for two to make 54 not out in a final product of 100 for seven.

Reynoldson cut loose in the last few overs, shaking off the shackles imposed by Chappell (3-14), Chris Bradley (2-16) and Bovey’s Ryan Bougourd, who bowled four overs for 14 runs on his debut,.

James Burke had just been dismissed for two when rain stopped play for the last time.

Had the game gone the distance Newman said Devon had every reason to be confident of knocking off the runs, although Bedfordshire may beg to differ.

Win or lose Devon did a lot more right than wrong, which Newman believes augers well for the season ahead.

“Chris Bradley got the bowling strategy spot on, keeping the quick men out of the attack and going with himself, Trevor Anning and Gary Chappell at first, with less pace on the ball,” said Newman.

“Matt Wood’s run-out showed all the hallmarks of his time in the professional game. He got himself set, made sure he wasn’t going to miss and threw the middle stump down from an angle.

“That set the standard for our fielding which the others tried to repeat. Other than a dropped catch at slip, we didn’t get much wrong.

“Chappell bowled brilliantly for his three wickets and Ryan Bougourd bowled well for his first time at this level.

“If you had offered me a hundred to chase in 23 overs I would have been glad to take it, so we clearly got that part of our game right.”

Devon don’t have a senior game until they go to Challow on May 20 to play Oxfordshire in the Trophy.

However, the Lions Development XI are in action before then when they play Oxford University MCCU in a T20 challenge match in The Parks.

Bedfordshire 100-7 (A M Reynoldson 54; G R Chappell 3-14, C Bradley 2-16), Devon 23-1. Rain stopped play. Devon (1pt), Bedfordshire (1).

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