(2) 89-8 as Piper lent away at one got caught behind on the back foot. Now we started to bat as Jack Porter and Justine Yau put on 45 – 11 short of the record. At lunch the Torquay Grammar School boys were in total command and hatched a game plan about the bowlers they were would face. Unwisely they forgot to tell their opponents who brought back their captain which ruined it all and Yau was his fourth and final victim giving the keeper his third catch. Tom Allin is not a number 11 and did not bat like one adding 43 with Porter in 94 balls. Allin was then caught and Porter left undefeated on an excellent 51 (89 balls; 95 mins; 9 fours) Middlesex conceded 25 extras to the third top scorer in the visitors innings of 54.
Another record as for the second successive game Devon were invited to follow on and faced with a minimum of 50 overs Devon would try and pick up some bonus points. Bess fell at 9 caught by Morgan, three balls later Horton was caught by Poynter – here we go again. Dan Bowser who never looks in any difficulty but is getting out batted typically with Tim Piper to tea. They were now part of Devon’s highest partnership of the day when Bowser broke the trend and was bowled for a 59 ball 17. The skipper tried to make up the lost ground his injury has created tried to get in some batting practice but angled one to the incredibly safe hands of Poynter at slip to be the last victim of the day. It was time to sit back and for the first time in two days, enjoy. Cooke was now using Island and Piper reliving his maiden hundred of the previous weekend as the pair dominated. The put on a new fifth wicket record of 134 breaking our coaches – James Gibson – record with Steven Edmonds from 2000. They batted with real flair and flourish and demonstrated real ability and attitude as at last the pressure was reversed and the visitor’s more than reasonable attack wilted. Pipers fifty came off 80 balls – Cooke’s 61. Piper cruised into the 90s, Middlesex blocked the ones did up their laces and Piper blocked five on 99 and then a miss field and the magic three figures off 140 balls were on the score board. Piper has taught himself to keep the ball on the ground and play in the V this winter and is now a top prospect. Cooke has always been a top prospect and this must have been his best county knock to date – despite his inflamed shins. He would have reached the 100 but the overs ran out. Plus points – played spinners better, last two partnerships – first innings; Piper and Cook second. Minus points catching, inability to bat first innings in partnerships. Need to improve desire in field and batting.
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