PETER Trego was never far from the action as Devon walloped Wales 217 runs to get their Unicorns Championship campaign off to a winning start.
Trego may be approaching the veteran stage as far as Somerset are concerned, but he clearly had spring in his step on his debut as Devon’s match professional.
A maiden century (159) in Devon’s first innings in a county record-busting partnership of 244 with Max Curtis (131) helped Devon make 450 for six either side of a lengthy rain break.
Wales, 112 for five at the end of day two, were held to 229 for eight in their first innings in the mandatory 90 overs. On a dour wicket at Pontarddulais, Devon could not get the breakthroughs that would have enabled them to enforce a follow-up.
The match had to be won the hard way, which meant briefly batting again then having another go at dismissing Wales on a wearing wicket.
Devon made 144 for five declared in 15 overs – Trego bludgeoning seven fours and six sixes on the way to not out off 32 balls – which left around 54 overs to bowl out Wales.
It was mission accomplished with more than nine overs in hand as Dan Goodey (3-29), Trego (2-14) and James Burke (2-30) did most of the work dismissing Wales for 148.
It was just the start Devon wanted to the final Unicorns Championship played under the current format. Finishing sixth or below in a table of ten will mean relegation into the new Western Second Division.
For Devon’s new director of cricket Dave Tall it was the perfect way to start his term in charge.
“Considering we lost around 60 overs on the first two days to bad weather we did well to get any sort of result at all,” said Tall.
“What can I say about Peter Trego? As a cricketer he oozes class and as a bloke he fitted into the team straight away.
“The wicket had very little in it to encourage our bowlers, even at the end of the third day, but we played some faultless cricket to get the win we wanted.”
Devon 450-6 (P D Trego 159, M H Curtis 131, M C Golding 84; L M Cheshire 3-42) & 144-5 dec (P D Trego 80no, M C Golding 32; T L Jones 2-27, P Sisodya 2-23), Wales 229-8 (O M D Kolk 76, P Sisodya 37; J A Stephens 2-22) & 148 (P Sisodya 41; D J Goodey 3-29, P D Trego 2-14, J E Burke 2-30). Devon (24 pts) bt Wales (4) by 217 runs.
