- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
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- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
DEVON team boss Keith Donohue said there were more plusses than minuses to emerge from the two-wicket defeat by Wales at Usk in the Minor Counties Championship.
Wales were left to make 290 to win in 61 overs on the third day – and got there in a tense finale with nine balls to spare.
Man of the moment for Wales with an unbeaten 75 off 45 balls was their skipper, former Glamorgan all-rounder Darren Thomas.
Devon went into the game with a much-changed side with only two regulars among the top five batters as Rob Holman, James Burke and Seb Benton were all absent.
Donohue said the absentees weren’t missed as much as they could have been, which was one of the many positives to come out of the game.
“I think it shows the depth in Devon cricket that we brought in the two Plymouth lads – Callum Whittaker and James Toms, who have never played at this level before – and one of them got 60 odd and the other a hundred,” said Donohue.
“If everyone is available for the next game against Herefordshire in a couple of weeks, picking the side is going to be difficult. How do you leave out the lads who have come in?
“Not only did the new lads do well; so did some of our more senior players.
“Josh Bess (pictured) is batting really well at the moment. He got a few first dig then scored 95 in the second innings when we were trying to set Wales a total. It was a great knock and he deserved a hundred for it.
“Then there was Trevor Anning, who has easily been our best bowler this season and reminded everyone he is a decent batsman as well with a fine 80 in the second innings.
“Trevor has been around a long time, yet even at this stage of his career he still has the drive to get stuck in when the going is tough and score a new career best.
“Ultimately, the pitch flattened out and became easier to bat on over the three days and we were bowling last on it.
“Until four or five overs out it was 50-50 which way it would go, which was a pretty good effort.
“Wales are the best side we have seen in any form of cricket this season – and Darren Thomas remains a fine player even though his pro career ended some time ago.
“We competed throughout the three days and you can’t ask for more than that.”
Devon now have a 10-day break before they play Herefordshire at Colwall.
Devon 257 (C P Whittaker 68, R W Davies 69, M C Golding 35, J J Bess 28; D P Jones 5-59, K A Bull 2-36) & 348 (J A M Toms 105, J J Bess 95no, T S Anning 80; D P Jones 4-65), Wales 316 (J R Murphy 41, T J Baker 50, K A Bull 55, S D Thomas 81; M A Orchard 4-38, D F Lye 2-35) & 291-8 (S D Thomas 75no, R F Evans 43, A J Norman 53; C Bradley 3-83). Wales (23pts) bt Devon (6) by 2 wkts.