Our second innings opening partnerships are better - 40, 73 and now 46 when Bowser was leg before for 18. With a fair number of overs available Devon was looking to pick up at least three batting points. Wilkinson lasted 19 balls this time and another 33 runs were needed for the first point when Gulliver put Wilkinson on his travels by bowling him. Sidmouth in the form of Bess and Cooke navigated a Rowe tea and put on 71 in 161 balls. Bess fell first for a 143 ball 68 (10 fours and a six) – his second innings batting this summer has been outstanding but……. Knight took his runs for the match up to ten and was caught at 169 – second batting point in the bag. Now was 250 possible, the side needed 81 off 60 balls. Key man Cooke was bowled at 186 for a 109 ball 60 (6 fours and 2 sixes) and hopefully his disappearance into the Sandford pavilion would not have the same result as last year when he did not reappear on a cricket ground that summer. Porter ran and jabbed and with Smith took the side to a third point. Smith experimented with the lap and eventually started to make contact. Carr’s mission was simple – smack it. His five ball 14 ensured the accelerator was now in full use, Smith watched and applauded from the non strikers end in the 14 run partnership. Carr departs at 222 with 19 balls left to score 28. Smith reverse swept, Yau drove a six on the full second ball, Smith was run out by 11 yards backing up and Tom Allin dressed and padded up in record time. Last over 8 needed. Allin gets off the mark Yau drives his second six over the despairing hands of long on and takes a single off the third, Devon declare - 20 useful points from a side who were dead and buried at 32-5 on the first morning. In difficult weather conditions Sandford were their normal outstanding hosts with their wonderful hospitality. It was good to see Ross Acton at the ground he is now fully fit after his nasty accident.

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