Cornwall v Devon (2)

It was now time for a major partnership and Bettiss and Tim Piper were intent on providing one. Bettiss has been in good nick all season and he continued in this vain and with Piper gaining confidence all the time the pair put on 64 in 82 balls. During the partnership Bettiss was to reach three figures for the first time at county level since the twelve’s. Why so long? Piper hit a straight six and Devon was well placed at 214 when Piper was run out by a direct hit and his enterprising and invaluable contribution came to an end. Bettiss was now bringing out his full array of strokes, thankfully not the reverse sweep. With James Fraser, making his season’s debut at this level, all looked rosy with the young left hander playing a tremendous cameo of shots. Bettiss found long off at 251 and received a well deserved ovation for a career best 123. The manager made a critical error in telling Miles to bat for lunch (5 overs) and Devon would then charge for 30 minutes after to get full batting points and a cushion to bowl at Cornwall. This inhibited Fraser and on the last ball before lunch he swept and the ball hit virtually every part of his antimony and then to the horror of the spectators rolled on to his stump. His face said a thousand words. Lunch came but the charge did not and at the fall of the eighth wicket Watkin called them in. Now all Devon had to do was bowl out Cornwall quickly and get any necessary runs – easy. The now relegated Cornwall did not lie down and cave in – how selfish – as their key batters put on 80 and in turn 37 runs ahead. There was then a flourish of wickets as three more fell before 111, Piper removing Jose for the second time in the match with another remarkable one hander but Martin dug in and he advanced to a well deserved century and his side 170 it was time to get into the traffic.

Marc Bettiss sweeping his way to a ton

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