The lessons from the first county game of the season were not learnt and again chasing a reasonable first innings score was beyond this young Devon side. However as they proved against Wiltshire they do not buckle in the second innings with Tim Piper scoring a maiden county hundred and Matt Cooke returning to his best form. On the down side his shin injury is likely to keep him out for two weeks.
Toss lost – say no more - Middlesex bat – ball swings – 33 (the first 15 runs all extras and 20 out off 33) on the board after seven overs but in the eighth a brilliant direct throw from Tim Piper runs out England player Qureshi. Thirty runs later Levy is caught behind by Yau off Cooke. We miss opener Ilangartne at slip – twice and lunch comes at 91-2 with the visitor’s skipper, Irishman, Euan Morgan, not out having scored 12 off his first 50 balls. The second session brought Devon a wicket when the opener was caught at square leg by Jack Menheneott after the batters eyes had lit up at the bowling of Josh Bess. Morgan was proving a class act and you could appreciate why Middlesex are so keen on him. After tea Devon prepared for the onslaught and a difficult batting session. First Piper caught Poynter (47) at backward point as the batsman tried to cut off spinner Cooke and finally now fully on the charge and past his 150 Morgan was well held off a skier by Yau off Damien Price. He had faced 208 balls hitting 20 fours and did not give a chance – a name to watch. 358- 5 off 94 was a reasonable return for both sides as the bowling changes were imaginative and normally brought a chance if not a wicket but what was to be apparent when Middlesex fielded was their different attitude in the field and an exceptional skill level by the close catchers. First Devon had to negotiate 8 overs before close of play in not the best light of the day. Middlesex opened with pace at the score box end and left arm spin at the sight screen end. Presumably they had done their research as the bowler was Tailor who had taken 6-23 off ten against the 15s at the same ground the previous year. He added to his tally in the sixth over when Jack Menheneott was the first of nine catches taken by Middlesex being Poynter's first of three at slip. Overnight 11-1 the home side were still confident at this run feast of a ground.
The confidence was sadly not warranted as first night watchman Damian Price was a rarity - bowled! Bess was Poynter's second victim, Horton lasted four balls and was caught behind 39- 4. Bowser and Fraser dug in 22 added, Fraser in two minds out caught. 61-5 became 61-6 as anchor Dan Bowser fell immediately brilliantly caught by the diving Poynter. Twenty-two added by Tim Piper and Matt Cooke who both played pedigree shots and looked in no trouble when Cooke was the second of Morgan’s three catches.
                                                   Next