Sunday,
April 15 2007
BOB
Dawson, Neil Hancock and David Court all hit half-centuries
as Devon's warm-up programme continued with a 167-run
win over a Devon Development XI at Exmouth.
Exmouth captain Court
top scored with 74, which came off just 53 balls and
included nine fours and a six, as Devon were all out
for 324 in the last of their 50 overs.
A three-wicket burst from Trevor Anning, and two wickets
for Ian Bishop, had the Development XI reeling at 14
for four then 44 for five in the 10 th over.
Paignton's Seb Benton and Barton's Jack Porter stopped
the slide with a stand of 71 spread across 21 overs,
although there wasn't much they could do about the damage
already done.
Once Porter and Benton
went in quick succession - Porter to a great
diving catch by Court at square-leg off Anning –
it was only a question of how long the Development XI
could hang on.
The answer was all the way to the end as Shane Evenden
(16no) and Torquay's Matt Thompson (15) used up the
overs to reach an eventual total of 157 for eight.
For Devon's batsmen time at the crease was what they
wanted, especially those who had missed out against
Somerset at Taunton seven days earlier.
Dawson, who failed the trouble the scorers at Taunton,
played himself in then went on to make 69 in even time
in a stand of 108 for the first Devon wicket with Foan.
Foan, whose 45 made up for his handful at Taunton, was
the first of three wickets claimed by Porter, whose
bowling stood up best of all the Development XI seamers.
Dawson was teased out hitting Matt Cooke over the top,
which turned out to be a mixed blessing for the Development
XI as that unleashed Hancock and Court on their attack.
Ex-Paignton captain Hancock's 51 was at run-a-ball for
all practical purposes and included three fours, three
sixes and ten in an over off Porter.
Eleven overs of carnage, which yielded 90 Devon runs,
ended when Paignton's Stephen George bowled Court.
Hancock was well caught by Porter off Eliot Acton behind
square which left Devon 282 for four, after which the
Development XI bowlers started to take their revenge
for the rough treatement handed out.
Tom Allin (3-67) and Porter (3-47) were both among the
wickets as the bottom half of Devon's order went with
the minimum of fuss.
Devon 324 (R I Dawson 69, D G Court
75, N D Hancock 51, R J Foan 45; T Allin 3-67, J Porter
3-41), Devon Development XI 157-8 (S
Benton 36, J Porter 31; T S Anning 4-23). Devon
bt Devon Development XI by 167 runs.
