DEVON made light work of a seven-wicket win over Gloucestershire 2nd XI at Heathcoat in their third pre-season warm-up game.
Gloucestershire were all out for 125 in the 40th of their 50 overs – no one making more than Jordan Garrett (35).
Devon skipper Rob Woodman used eight bowlers and all of them took at least one wicket.
Liam Smith, a 19-year-old pace bowler who asked Devon for a trial, picked up two for 22 in five overs.
Smith, an old boy of Malvern College, has featured for Worcestershire from under-13 level, through the age groups. He played in all three formats of the game for Worcestershire 2nd XI last season and appeared for Barnards Green in the Birmingham League.
Heathcoat’s Jamie Drew was among the wicket takers, cleaning out opener Patrick Grieshaber.
Devon are interested in seam bowlers of Drew’s type, who are in short supply around the county in these days of containing bowling in Saturday league games.
Devon had the runs knocked off midway through the 29th over, led by an unbeaten 47 from Matt Thompson.
Harvey Sargent (30) made early runs after the cheap demises of Woodman (8) and Max Curtis (1).Sargent is pictured left
Thompson and Matt Golding (31) finished the job with a stand of 64 for the unbroken fourth wicket.
Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket, said Gloucestershire were a little below strength due to call-ups for the 1st XI, but what they brought with them was dealt with efficiently.
He added: “What we got out of it was a good outing in the field, spells for all our bowlers and time in the middle for our early batters.”
Gloucestershire 125 (J L N Garrett 35; L J Smith 2-22), Devon 130-3 (M W Thompson 47no, M C Golding 31no, H Sargent 30). Devon bt Gloucestershire by 7 wkts.
