(2)After 35 frustrating minutes during which 33 runs were added at last a wicket fell to a bowler whose surname did not begin with the third letter of the alphabet as a fourth leg before was given – yep shades of Somerset 2003 at the same ground. Overall 34% of the overs were maidens and had the innings not come to an end the side would have bowled 120 in the day a top performance on a sapping day. In the pre match discussions early wickets were sought, an improved fielding performance plus a decent start. So far one out of two can we make it two out of three? Devon was faced with a tricky 16 overs against two tall opening bowlers who impressed the former Somerset chief. Bowser and Bess survived each facing 49 balls and leaving their side 30-0 at close of play – their best first innings start of the season. On an equally pleasant day, with an early start to allow our opponents to get home for their fixture with Gloucestershire, our openers continued their seasons best when at 46 and after four overs in the morning session Bowser was held by the diving Muzawazi scooping the ball at backward point. Mickey Wilkinson then set off the rectify the loss of a maiden county hundred in the previous game when he was run out on 95 by putting on 117 with Josh Bess as the pair responded to the previous days request for the top order to fire on all cylinders. The partnership took the side up to the forty fourth over when the well set Josh Bess well on way to a second county ton gave a soft catch to extra cover for 77. His fifty came off 113 minutes and he had batted in the two sessions for 157 minutes hitting 10 fours. Lunch came at 186-2 with Matt Cooke slowly finding his feet. He scored his first eight off 30 balls – the fireworks were to follow later. Wilkinson was accumulating and just reinforcing his value to the side. Representatives from ROK, who have sponsored Devon Youth cricket this summer, were treated to a superb post lunch session. The record third wicket partnership of 140 set at Exmouth in 1996 in a memorable semi-final victory over Warwickshire by Alex Bailey and David Lye was surpassed as the pair went on to put on 169 off only 144 deliveries. They tore into the Bedfordshire attack that resorted to ten different bowlers and both batters were approaching their hundred. Wilkinson reached his first ton for the county in an understated way by hitting a six! He did not bat on but did not get too big a kick up the backside as he and Cooke had played their roles to perfection - their side had picked up maximum batting points and with sufficient overs left in the day were now were working out when to declare. Wilkinson was bowled at 332 with Cooke on 85, Cooke used to have problem in the forties but not any more but he did not advance to the three figures he deserved. It was not a case of nervous nighties as he was just smacking it but fell for 93.                                                                            Next