SCORECARD 

DEVON’s pre-season warm-up campaign gained a bit more momentum with a five-wicket win over Somerset 2nd XI at Sidmouth on Sunday,

Somerset battled rain and high winds to make 187 all out, which Devon knocked-off with more than three overs to spare.

That is three wins on the trot for Devon, who overcame Hampshire’s second XI at the Ageas Bowl two Saturdays ago, with only one defeat so far.

Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket, said before the weekend double header against Gloucestershire and Somerset he was more interested in game-time than results.

Donohue said he stood by that view after analysing both matches.

“It’s always better to win, but the two days were about time in the middle more than anything,” Donohue said.

“Over the four games we’ve played so far, all the batsmen have had a chance and the senior blokes have all got runs.

“More importantly, we’ve got some overs into our bowlers, which is vital at this stage of the season. You can’t beat time in the middle at this time of your preparations and we’ve been lucky to get four full games in.”

Finlay Trenouth top-scored for Somerset with 35 before he was one of three victims claimed by Josh King.

Max Curtis (left) played the anchorman role as Devon chased down the runs. He came in a 22 for one and batted through for an unbeaten 69. Matt Golding (24) and Rob Woodman (25) both chipped in.

Devon also had a first look at Alfonso Thomas, who will be their professional this season if his registration he can be sorted out. The former Somerset man bowled five overs for ten runs with the new ball and, according to Donohue, was ‘quickly into the groove’.

“Whether we can play him in the Minors remains to be seen as we are still waiting for his registration to be approved and it is taking a while.”

Citizenship issues are delaying South African Thomas’s registration as he is waiting for UK naturalisation papers to come through. The MCCA won’t register overseas players.

Devon will look elsewhere if they can’t have Thomas and have started the process already, giving a trial to Liam Smith in the previous day’s win over Gloucestershire.

Smith, a 19-year-old pace bowler, picked up two for 22 in five overs. He has featured for Worcestershire from Under-13 level through the age groups and played in all three formats of the game for their second XI last season.

Somerset 187 (F R Trenouth 35, A J Hose 25, E J Byrom 25; J V King 3-17, T A Lammonby 2-16, M C Golding 2-26), Devon 188-5 (M H Curtis 69no, R J Woodman 25no: L T Redrup 2-35). Devon bt Somerset 2nd XI by 5 wkts.