DEVON were bowled out of the Unicorns KO Trophy by Wiltshire after rain ruined the 50-over clash at Warminster.
Wiltshire were 118 for five in the 27thover when a second break for rain stopped play.
Somerset’s Peter Trego, Devon’s new match professional, picked up a wicket on his debut and there were three wickets for Taunton team-mate Kasey Aldridge (3-19) in his first spell.
Aldridge looked particularly lively and the rising ball that Uzair Qureshi gloved through to keeper Matt Thompson bordered on the unplayable.
Wiltshire captain Ed Young was unbeaten on 33 when umpires Dean Daniels and Bob Hampshire took the players off for an early lunch, from which they never returned.
Inspection and restart deadlines came and went until Devon captain Alex Barrow, opposite number young and the umpires agreed to take the bowl-out option.
Warminster CC benefits from having an indoor cricket school on site, which was where players and officials adjourned for the bowl out.
Devon have never won at KO competition bowl out – and true to form they lost this one as well.
Trego hit the stumps with both his deliveries, but Matt Golding was the only other Devonian to rattle the timbers. Wiltshire came from 2-0 down to go through 4-3.
Dave Tall, Devon’s director of cricket, said it was a ‘near-farcical’ way to go out of the competition. He added: “It is shame a way cannot be found to have a reserve day to avoid this sort of situation.
“Having worked hard to get Wiltshire five down and ourselves into a strong position, it is a horrible way to go out. The lads were gutted.”
Tall said plus points were the belated arrival of Trego, whose Somerset commitments prevented him taking on his duties until now, and Aldridge’s fiery spell.
“Someone with Peter’s experience is going to be good to have around and the younger players in the team can only benefit,” said Tall.
“Aldridge looked in a different class when he bowled and made life very difficult for all the Wiltshire batters because of the areas he bowled in.”
Wiltshire 118-5 (T I Morton 29, E G C Young 33, K L Aldridge 3-19) v Devon. Rain stopped play. Wiltshire won a bowl-out 4-3.
