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TUESDAY, AUGUST 21

DEVON'S soggy season ended with a whimper as the game against Oxfordshire at Exmouth was quietly abandoned at lunchtime on the third day.

   Rain knocked 27 overs from the first day's play – and washed out all three sessions on Monday as well.

   Although the weather improved yesterday, the outfield at the Maer Ground wasn't dry enough to get the game started on time.

   A 2pm inspection was pencilled in by umpires Graham Curson and John James in the hope of getting some cricket in.

   Well before then though captains Bob Dawson and Ian Hawtin had decided there was no prospect of a meaningful game and shook hands on a draw.

   Oxfordshire were 173 for eight at close of play on Sunday night, having recovered from 99 for eight thanks to an unbeaten 74 from Hawtin.

   The bowlers who did the damage for Devon were Trevor Annning – he claimed four for 40 – and Ian Bishop (2-46).

   In some ways yesterday's wash out was an appropriate way for Devon's season to end.

   Rain has dominated proceedings more than any efforts with bat or ball, wiping out 12 days cricket since the start of May.

   Any hopes Devon had of retaining the Western Division title they won last year went out of the window when the three-day game against Wales at Swansea was washed out without a ball bowled.

   Only one of Devon's six Minor Counties Championship games his season wasn't interrupted by bad weather at some stage. When it did rain during the away game with Cheshire at Chester, the two teams carried on playing!

   Bad weather played havoc with Devon's run in the Minor Counties KO Cup – and cost them a small fortune as well.

   It was bad enough going to Swansea to watch the rain fall all day – even worse to repeat the exercise for two days in Chester.

   County officials reckon it cost them around £3,000 in hotels, travelling and expenses not to play the semi-final against Cheshire the first time of asking. They had to stump up again when the game was replayed at the same venue a month later!

   Cheshire won the replay to book themselves a trip to Lord's next week to play Suffolk in the final. Win there and Cheshire can repeat the Minor Counties double by Devon back in 1994 as they already have the Western Division title in the bag and have a play-off game against the Eastern champions, likely   to be either Norfolk or Hertfordshire.

   Oxfordshire 173-8 (I A Hawtin 74; T S Anning 4-40, I E Bishop 2-46). Rain stopped play.