Devon Cricket Board - Devon on top going into day two

Devon on top going into day two

DEVON v BERKSHIRE – DAY ONE

JAMES Burke and Rob Holman both hit half-centuries as Devon ended day one of the Western Division decider in a commanding position.

Berkshire opener Mike Roberts hit a near-chanceless century as leaders Berkshire reached 214 for four – and when he got out they lost their way.

Devon bowled Berkshire out for 279 and by last night’s close had sliced 123 off the deficit to trail by 156 with nine wickets intact and 59 overs to bat. The only casualty was Holman, lbw to Shaun Udal for 52.

Berkshire are far enough ahead of Devon to win the division by drawing the match. Second-placed Devon have to win and have made an encouraging start.

Roger Newman, Devon’s director of cricket, said it was so far so good but a lot can change over the next two days.

“We have developed a habit of winning this season and that showed in the way we played,” said Newman.

“At 11am if I had been offered Berkshire all out for 279 I would have taken it. About an hour after lunch when they were 214 for four I would have jumped at it.

“The bowlers stuck to their task, we got Roberts out by cutting off his favourite shots and making him take risks.

“He hit one up in the air trying to force it, and when he got out two more wickets went very quickly and they weren’t going to get 376 or 370, which had looked distinctly possible.

“We have to win the match – Berkshire can afford to draw – and to win it we need runs on the board. Rob and James have given us a great start, but we can’t afford to get carried away as a lot can happen in two days.”

Devon’s bowling was a bit average for a while either side of lunch, but the fielding was top-of-the-range stuff.

Other than one spilled catch in the slips which gave Roberts a life in the first over, Devon were exemplary.

Josh Boss gobbled up three slip catches – one a brilliant diving effort off Trevor Anning to remove Euan Brock.

David Lye threw himself to the left in the gulley to claim a done-handed catch which dispatched Berkshire captain David Barnes.

Keeper Matt Thompson, quickly making the job his own after replacing Sandy Allen md-season, had four more catches and completed a run-out.

Pick of the bowlers with three for 60 was spinner Chris Bradley. Anning, Bess and Barlow took two each.

Overnight: Berkshire 279 (M D T Roberts 118, S D Udal 28; C Bradley 3-60, T S Anning 2-42, S Barlow 2-69), Devon 123-1 (J E Burke 50no, R J Holman 52).

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