Devon Cricket Board - Devon claim West title with day to spare

Devon claim West title with day to spare

David Lye leads the celebrations after Berskshire's Simon Macey is bowled by Chris Bradley - photo Gary Day (Redback Cricket)

Devon v Berkshire -- Day Two

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DEVON are the Minor Counties Western Division champions after beating Berkshire by 10 wickets with a day to spare in the title decider at Sidmouth.

Berkshire, who were top of the table going into the last round of fixtures, only had to draw to clinch the title.

Second-placed Devon had to win the match to get ahead of Berkshire – and got there at the end of a day of high drama that went into extra time!

Devon, 85 ahead on first innings, bowled Berkshire out second time around for 107, leaving a target of 23 to win.

There were three early wickets for Trevor Anning, three at the end for Scott Barlow and a smattering in the middle shared between Bess, Chris Bradley and Neil Hancock.

Technically time was up when Barlow dispatched Stewart Davison lbw to end the Berkshire innings, but competition rules allowed Devon to claim five more overs to finish the match without going into the third day.

Devon openers James Burke and Rob Holman didn’t hang about, getting the job done in just 2.3 overs.

The game had ebbed and flowed up to lunch with both sides taking it in turns to get on top. Berkshire spinners Shaun Udal and Euan Brock had taken six wickets between them, reducing Devon to 241 for seven in reply to Bershire’s 279 all out.

Devon, under the cosh before lunch, took control through skipper Neil Hancock and keeper Matt Thompson, whose stand of 102 for the eighth wicket helped build a total of 364 for eight

Roger Newman, Devon’s director of cricket, said the value of the stand between Hancock and Thompson could not be underplayed in the context of the game.

“Berkshire’s two spinners bowled well, but we didn’t help ourselves by finding some disappointing ways to get out,” said Newman.

At 241 for seven we were in danger of being roughly level with Berkshire going into the second innings, or maybe a little ahead.

“What Hanks and Thommo did was put Berkshire on the back foot and leave them chasing the game for the first time in the match.

“Hanks consolidated until the last 10 overs, which was exactly the right thing to do in our position.

“Thommo played a super innings and the way he dealt with Udal was interesting.

“Udal had a good career as a pro – and played for England – but Matt wasn’t fazed by that.

“Matt lapped him, reverse swept him and hit him over the top – and when Udal went off and when Parsons the seamer came back, he hit him for six into the hotel next door.

“Matt works the ball around and plays shots all over the ground. It would not surprise me if a First Class county started showing an interest in him once word gets around what a good player we have on our hands.”

It wasn’t just the Hancock and Thompson show, as Newman was quick to acknowledge.

“We had the lead, but Berkshire are a good side and it would have been easy to let them back into the game.

“Trevor Anning is fitter than he has been for a while and that’s shown in the way he has been bowling. He got their first two wickets, although Josh softened them up first for him.

“We have backed the bowlers by taking our catches. We have played in a professional manner and are seeing some rewards.”

As Western Division champions Devon get to chalenge their Eastern Division counterparts in next month’s Championship play-off game.

The opposition will be either Staffordshire or Cambridgeshire, whose own deciding game at Wisbech still has a day to run.
Berkshire 279 (M D T Roberts 118, S D Udal 28; C Bradley 3-60, T S Anning 2-42, S Barlow 2-69) & 107 (S Barlow 3-11, T S Anning 3-10), Devon 364-8 (J E Burke 75no, M W Thompson 60no, N D Hancock 58, R J Holman 52; E E Brock 4-84, S D Udal 3-112) & 23-0. Devon (24pts) bt Berkshire (6) by 10 wkts.

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