TOM Lammonby and Zak Bess scored tons of differing tones and tempo as Devon racked up the runs against Wales at Sandford.
James Burke made 56 and Ed Yeo 32 in between the tons as Devon amassed 476 for nine in their full quota of 90 overs.
Wales, whose skipper Brad Wadlan won the toss and chose to field, were in trouble at 34 for six when stumps were pulled last night. Wadlan, out first ball, was one of the casualties.
Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket, said it proved a good toss to lose but only because the batters stuck to their task.
“Wales stuck us in because they thought the ball would do a bit – and for the first hour or so it did,” said Donohue.
“Had we been three or four down instead of two, it would have been a lot harder to do what we did.
“Tom Lammonby and James Burke weathered that early storm for us and both played some fine shots.
“It was Tom’s first hundred for Devon and a great way to end the week when he has been named England U19 captain. I suspect he his destined for bigger things in the game.
“The platform Tom and James put down enabled Zak to play each ball on its merits with a high degree of expertise and skill.”
Lammonby, dual-registered with Somerset and captain elect of England U19s for the upcoming series against South Africa, went in at 28 for two after Devon openers Tom Ansell and Josh Mailling struggled against the new ball.
Burke and Lammonby got Devon moving with a stand of 87. Lammonby – 16 fours, 133 balls faced – was involved in partnerships that added 252.
With Devon 326 for six with 25 overs left in their innings, big-hitter Zak Bess had the freedom to play his shots. There were 10 fours and six sixes in a 97-ball knock of 116 all out that hurtled Devon into the early 400s.
Wales need to reach 326 on day two to avoid the follow-on. Last night, trailing by 442 runs, that looked a particularly tall order.
Devon 476-9 (T A Lammonby 102, Z G G Bess 116, J E Burke 58, E T Yeo 32; R Walker 3-84, R D Edwards 3-94), Wales 34-6. Devon (4pts), Wales (4). Today: 11am-7pm.
