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- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
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- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
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- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
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- 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’S Minor Counties Cup hopes are just about over for this season after a five-wicket defeat by Hertfordshire at Instow yesterday.
No batsman made more than Gary Chappell with 35 as Devon toiled to 207 for nine in their 50 overs.
The total always looked on the light side, even though Hertfordshire were seven for two early on and struggling for runs.
An unbeaten century from skipper Nesan Jayaratnam held the Hertfordshire chase together and he was still there at the end on 121 when the game was won in the 48th over.
Jayaratnam survived a confident shout for lbw early on and hit the ball in the air once or twice, but real chances were few and far between.
Devon didn’t bowl consistently well for long enough – Trevor Anning, Chris Bradley and Gary Chappell excepted – and that allowed Hertfordshire to bide their time and wait for the next bad ball to come along.
Devon didn’t bowl terribly, but didn’t have enough runs on the board to be as generous as they were at times.
For the second game running the top half of the order failed to fire and left the bottom half to make up the shortfall. Something similar happened in the defeat by Oxfordshire two weeks ago.
“To make 207 for nine when we were 115 for six was a good effort from the guys lower down, who couldn’t have done a lot more,” said Devon’s director of cricket Keith Donohue.
“Had we been 140 for six instead of 115 then we were looking at around 250 and it would have been a different game.
“It was good toss to win as the side bowling first would have an advantage in the conditions.
“It certainly flattened out when we bowled, which helped them and hindered us.
“As with Oxfordshire two weeks ago we were not awful, but need to improve in a few areas of our batting and our fielding.
“With Oxfordshire having won two now it will take some doing for us to qualify from the group, but we will keep going. You never know.”
James Burke (32) made early runs for Devon, then Matt Thompson (26), Gary Chappell (35) and Matt Golding (24) got the scoreboard moving in the last 15 overs.
Chappell’s 31-ball knock was the highlight of the Devon innings and showed how limited over cricket should be played.
Two superb slip catches by Neil Hancock – one head high, one knee high – removed Ed Ballard and Dan Blacktopp in the first three overs while Devon’s bowlers were on top. One more wicket then may have made a difference. It didn’t come.
Jayaratnam towed Jamie Southgate (17) and Cornishman Ben Frazer (11) along as Herts reached 138 for five.
Nick Lamb batted through with Jayaratnam for 23 not out in an unbroken stand of 72 to win the match.
Devon need to beat Cornwall at Redruth in their next match to stand any chance of qualifying from their group for the knockout stages.
Devon 207-9 (G R Chappell 35, J Eburke 32, M W Thompson 26; N J Lamb 3-30), Hertfordshire 210-5 (N V Jayaratnam not out 121; T S Anning 2-17). Hertfordshire (2pts) bt Devon (0) by 5 wkts.
