The ground had been well covered and the overnight rain had not affected proceedings and the sun was shining would it shine on Devon? With night watchman Patel and Rawlinson giving the side some impetus the first nervous walk of the season was undertaken, the ankle operation obviously has some benefits and it did bring a wicket. In the sixth over of the morning Acton made one bounce and the second opener was back in the hutch as Yau held the catch removing Rawlinson on 13. Gloucestershire had scored a further 20 runs. The third wicket pairing of Patel and the flamboyant Ritchie Rickett’s put on 68 off 131 balls and the pre lunch dog walk was taken in the hope of another five for. On entering the gates a batsmen was on his way back to the pavilion Ricketts had been caught by Bowser and was Cooke’s first victim -130-3. Rickets had tried to take the initiative and was obviously a vital scalp. He scored 45 off 70 hitting 7 fours and one wicket was better than none. Lunch came 142-3 and the management had a go. It transpires that this team has poor pre lunch sessions as opposed to the normal poor post lunch session. Eight off Cooke's first over was not the best start but the screw started to be turned in an incredible session of play.  Gloucestershire advanced the score to 162 when Devon took the important wicket of the home side skipper Mills, he tried to work the ball for one and only achieved giving a difficult catch to the sides leading outfielder Daniel Bowser who held it on the boundary in his normal relaxed manner – now the visitors were back in the game. Cooke was the bowler and took his third wicket at 171 when he bowled Hall. From now on it was all Devon as Acton had Morrison leg before completing his return to the county scene with three wickets and showed what his accident with the plate glass window had deprived the side. Cooke now finished Gloucester off, but first the obdurate night watchman Patel was eighth out for a 161 ball 39 a tremendous performance for his side, Bess caught him on the drive in Carrs only over, three wickets fell at 177 the third was Russell leg before second ball and the final wicket fell at 178 when the outstanding keeper prospect 14 year old Dent was surrounded by ten alert Devonians prodded at his second ball and was caught by very short extra Joe Smith. The home side had lost their last seven wickets in 72 balls for 16 runs – quite amazing this side has more get out of jail cards than any other or is it they are perhaps a very very talented group. Cooke’s final figures were 6-39 just one run off the record, indeed in between his last two wickets was a wide which cost him the record! It would have been remarkable had he broken both the batting and bowling records in one season. His presence the previous season had been sorely missed.

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