Battling Bess hits 52no before bad light intervenes
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JOSH Bess hit his first half century of the season as Devon fought back hard at March Town in the Minor Counties play-off final with Cambridgeshire.

Devvon were finding it heavy going with six wickets falling before tea. At 97 for six they were in all sorts of trouble, but Bess and Thompson hauled things round with a stand of 55 for the seventh wicket.

The stand finally ended when Thompson was caught behind looking to work spinner Paul McMahon away in the gap behind point. He had made 26 in the stand, which had taken Devon to 152 for seven and a lead of exactly 200 over Cambridgeshire.

Bess kept on going to reach 52 not out in a total of 181 for seven when bad light stopped play. His previous high score for Devon this season was 23 against Shropshire and he couldn't have picked a better time to rediscover his scoring touch. 

Cambridgeshire 179 for eight overnight, added two more runs in 5.2 overs before the first break for bad light.

When the sides went back out Devon needed just two overs to take the last two wickets.

Joe Barrs was caught in the gully by David Lye off Craig Overton for two, Then Overton (3-21) trapped last man Tom Mees lbw for a duck as Cambridgeshire were removed for 182.

Devon, who lead by 48 runs on first innings, were unable to go out again due to rain between the innings. 

When Devon did get out there they reached 24 without loss before Cambridgeshire grabbed a breakthrough.

Opener Rob Holman was snared lbw by Tom Mees for eight, falling over a delivery pitched well up to him.

Surviving opener James Burke and Rob Woodman pushed the score along to 57 before Cambridgeshire took another wicket.

The man out was Burke (28), who slapped a long-hop from spinner Lewis Bruce straight to Cambs’ skipper Paul McMahon at short mid-wicket.

Woodman kept going with Bob Dawson at the other end and their stand added 20 to the Devon total.

Dawson, in what is likely to be his final Devon match if he confirms his retirement after the game, was given out lbw to Bruce for two.

The former Devon captain had a big stride in down the wicket, but that wasn’t enough to save him.

Woodman got as far as 32 before he was dismissed by a good catch low in the cordon by Mike Patemore off McMahon.

When Josh Bess went out to join David Lye, Devon were 81 for four from 26 overs, a lead of 127 on second innings.

Lye's stay turned out to be a brief one as he was given out lbw to McMahon for three as Devon dipped to 84 for five.

Craig Overton didn't last long either as he got out n the same was as Burke: caught McMahon at short mid-wicket, bowled Bruce. He made three and when he left Devon were 97 for six with half an hour to play before tea.

Josh Bess (19) and Matt Thompson (3) saw Devon through to 107 for six at tea.

 


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