Devon Cricket Board - Bess and Thompson get Devon off hook

Bess and Thompson get Devon off hook

CAMBRIDGESHIRE v DEVON – DAY THREE AT MARCH TOWN CC

Conrad Sutcliffe’s podcast + Roger Newman interview + day three scorecard

DEVON battled back from the brink of a collapse to set up an intriguing fourth and final day against Cambridgeshire in the Minor Counties play-off game at March Town.

When bad light stopped play half an hour early last night, Devon were 181 for seven, which in real terms is a lead of 229 overall.

It could easily have been an altogether different story though as Devon were teetering on the brink of collapse at 97 for six having lost five wickets for 40 runs as their middle-order were spun out by Paul McMahon (3-43) and Lewis Bruce (3-73).

Cambridgeshire, 48 runs behind on first innings, were closing in for the kill when Matt Thompson went out to join Josh Bess shortly before tea.

A combination of sound technique and sheer bloody mindedness stopped Cambridgeshire spinning Devon out as a stand of 55 between Bess and Thompson changed the tempo of the game.

Thompson finally went for a gutsy 26, caught behind off the impressive McMahon trying to flick the ball away behind point.

Bess (pictured) went on to reach his first 50 of the Championship season with a sweep for four off Bruce.

The Sidmouth opener has had no difficulties with the bat for his club side this season, but Devon runs have been a different matter. Before yesterday his best was 23 against Shropshire with an average closer to 11 than 12.

Trevor Anning (16no) kept the scoreboard ticking over with some lusty strokes before it got too dark to continue.

Now the pressure is on Cambridgeshire to take wickets if they want batting time to win the match – and Devon can thank Thompson and Bess for that.

"We needed someone to show some balls and that's exactly what the pair of them did,” said Devon’s director of cricket Roger Newman.

“Josh is a big match player and it came as no surprise to me that he found his form again in what is a big match.

“It is all about desire and application and the pair of them showed that in abundance.

“For the second time in the match our middle order has gone missing – it was five wickets for 42 runs the first time – and again Matt Thompson had helped pick up the pieces.

“We are now in a position where we can win the match, or at least not lose it. That didn’t look too likely when we were 97 for six.”

Cambridgeshire, 179 for eight overnight, were bowled out for 182 in the morning session with Craig Overton (3-21) collecting both wickets.

Devon made solid progress to 57 for one in reply – opener Rob Holman the man out for eight – then it all went wrong.

James Burke was out to a soft catch at short mid-wicket, then Rob Woodman dabbed a low catch into the slips.

Then Bob Dawson, David Lye and Craig Overton fell for just eight runs between them as Devon slipped from 57 for one to 97 for six.

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