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DEVON all-rounder Neil Hancock praised captain Bob Dawson and opening batsman Chris Mole for giving him the platform to launch his brutal late assault in Wednesday's Minor Counties Trophy victory over Berkshire at Lord's.

   Hancock may have missed out to Dawson in the man-of-the-match stakes. But his crucial 53 off 26 balls played a major role in taking Devon's total up to a daunting 290 for four — and he followed that up with three wickets as Berks were bowled out for 250 in reply.

   Hancock hit four fours and three sixes — one of which cleared the Lord's Grandstand — as he and David Lye put on an unbeaten 69 for the fifth wicket in less than six overs.

   He believes that was only possible because of the 181-run second-wicket stand between Dawson and Mole.

   “It was a fantastic partnership to get me and Dave into that position. We came in with wickets in hand and knowing there was a short boundary on one side,” he said.

   “Thankfully I managed to get a couple out of the middle of the bat and we got up to a good score.

   “We said before we batted that 250 was our target and anything over that gave us the upper hand, which proved to be the case.”

   But it wasn't all plain sailing for Devon in the field. There were two spells during the Berkshire innings when the pre-match favourites looked like chasing down their mammoth target.

   Their hopes were ended by three brilliant pieces of fielding — catches from Lye and James Hudson and a run out by Mole — but Hancock always believed Devon would prevail.

   “They got off to a great start, but we knew they had to go at us hard so there would be chances there for us,” he said.

   “We took those chances to get us back into it and 10 an over in the last 10 overs was always going to be a tough ask and we saw it through.

   “I've been struggling with injuries, but it was nice to get a few overs in and get the result.

   “It feels great to have won. It was a really tough game because Berkshire played very well. But it was played in good spirits and was very enjoyable.”

   The player who had the last word with the final wicket that sparked Devon's celebrations was Paignton spin bowler James Hudson.

   Hudson, a former MCC groundstaffer based at Lord's, was desperate to do well on his old stomping ground.

   He didn't get to bat and wasn't used as a bowler until late in the day – and was beginning to wonder what his role was going to be.

   Cricket is a team game though and Hudson had his moments in the latter stages of the match, starting with a vital catch to dismiss Berkshire captain Bjorn Mordt.

   Mordt's knock of 79 was the cornerstone of a seventh-wicket stand that got Berkshire back in the match after they appeared out of it at 113 for six.

   Hudson was just relieved when his moment came on the big stage he didn't fluff his lines.

   “I was down to bat at four if we lost wickets in the first 15 overs, or seven if we didn't, so I didn't get in at all,” said Hudson.

   “The captain came up to me during the halfway drinks break when we were fielding and said I would be bowling at the end.

   “I was pleased the captain had that sort of faith in me as at that stage the game was really in the balance.

   “I was fielding in the gully most of the time and soon became obvious I was in business alley down there. The way Mordt was batting the ball was going to come my way sooner or later, for either a run-out or a catch.

   “To be honest I don't remember much about the catch; I heard the whack as he hit it, I stuck out my left arm as I dived for the ball and when I hit the turf I looked in my hand and the ball had stuck there.”

   Hudson said Devon's travelling supporters – one coach left at 6am on match day from Newton Abbot for the match - made a huge difference to the team.

   “Having people in the stands cheering you on, and the banter between the two sets of supporters, certainly helped us out on the pitch,” said Hudson.

  

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