(2) What happened was the almost perfect game plan. The Bowser/Bess partnership put on a new record opening stand and should have gone on to break all records as they were so well set. Importantly they ran well and were at 20 overs six short of the hundred at lunch the pair had put on 150. They were both past their fifties and this was some partnership. They batted on another 12 overs when at 195 Gooden was reintroduced to the attack and first ball back Bess committed his one current weakness – carelessness – and was caught 4 runs short of a century his really did deserve he had faced 136 balls hitting 12 fours. Wilkinson then started creating problems for Bowser as he made him run but the innings the North Devonian had been threatening all season was underway as he passed the three figures for the first time in his county career. He then batted on to reach 120 and match the score Matt Hunt had reached in 1994. His hundred had come off 149 balls and he faced 181 in all hitting 16 fours – a brilliant performance. Devon were now 17 short having scored 220 off 50 overs. Wilkinson had done his job well but fell with the side two short for a 48 ball 34. First innings points were taken in the sixty-first over and at tea Devon were 313. Thought was given to tactics, it was decided not to give easy batting points to Herts but we would try and get some bowling points so we would give them 32 overs. Devon declared at 344-5 with gallant unselfish contributions from Piper, Porter, Chappell and Yau. We did give them a batting point mainly because the captain bowled himself and Bess and we failed to pick up the necessary bowling points. The outcome however was a true team performance which must now be taken into the two remaining away fixtures.

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