DEVON are running out of time to make it into the top half of the Western Division after suffering an innings defeat by Cheshire inside two days.
The management won’t know how bad the situation is until most of the other sides in the division complete their games today.
Devon were not the only side to lose a three-day game in two as Wiltshire walloped Wales by 139 runs.
Finishing fifth or higher will avoid being placed in the new Western Second Division next summer when Unicorns Cricket brings in promotion and relegation.
Unless Devon can find a way of winning against Oxfordshire and Cornwall in their last two games, Second Division cricket beckons.
Cheshire, 189 for two overnight, won by an innings and seven runs after making 305 for nine then dismissing Devon for 213 second time round.
Devon’s seamers and medium pacers bowled well, taking seven wickets for 116 runs added before Cheshire’s 90 overs were up. Hugo Whitlock and Matt Skeemer had two wickets each.
Devon’s batters had raw memories of being all out for 85 on day one and knew the importance of digging in.
Openers George Allen (41) and Jamie Baird, 38 off 105 balls, showed what could be done with a bit of application.
And professional Wayne White dug in for 42 off 91 balls, making a point against the county that dispensed with his services at the end of last season.
Devon bottom half struggled against the spin of Simon Normanton (3-71) and David Wainwright (5-43) as the last five wickets went for just 15 runs scored.
Dave Tall, the county team’s director of cricket, said the team showed what it was capable of in patches but could not maintain it for long enough.
“The morning session went pretty well for us as we bowled a lot better – they were 189 for two don’t forget – and we took chances when they came along,” said Tall.
“Considering the start Cheshire had, we did well to keep them to 305.
“Batting wise we started promisingly through George Allen and Jamie Baird, who showed what was possible with patience and determination.
“Just as it seemed we were getting back in the game again, our bad habit of losing wickets in clumps reappeared.
“Wayne White (42) and Matt Skeemer (23) applied themselves and it seemed we would get enough to make Cheshire bat again. That did not happen.
“Had we managed to get even 150 ahead with Cheshire batting last, there could have been a game to play on the last day.
“Unfortunately, just like Herefordshire earlier in the season when we were bowled out for 89, our first innings performance killed us.”
Summary
Devon 85 (B W Aitchison 4-18, B J Gibbon 3-25) & 213 (G B Allen 41, J W Baird 38, W A White 42; S Normanton 3-71, D J Wainwright 5-43), Cheshire 305-9 (D J Wainwright 40, R A L Moore 52, R T Sehmi 75, T L Robinson 47; H M Whitlock 3-25). Cheshire (23pts) bt Devon (4) by an innings and 7 runs. Full scorecard
