DEVON will clinch a place in the last eight of the Unicorns Trophy if they beat Dorset at Bashley tomorrow (Sunday).

Back-to-back wins over Oxfordshire and Berkshire have hoisted Devon into second place behind leaders Dorset in the Group One table. Cornwall can only finished second if they beat Oxfordshire and Devon lose.

Dorset are already assured of a place in the knockout round following a win over whipping boys Oxfordshire last Sunday.

Devon will finish level on points with Dorset if they win at Bashley, although finishing top in the group may prove beyond them.

The decider in the event of a dead heat is net run rate and Dorset’s is far superior.

“You get a home draw if you win the group, but let’s just concentrate on qualifying,” said Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket.

The two-wicket win over Berkshire at Exmouth last Sunday made it possible for Devon to qualify – but it was a close-run thing.

Devon, chasing 217 to win, got over the line in the final over thanks to a stand of 44 between Dom Bess (56o) and his cousin Zak (16no).

Donohue said it was depth that saw Devon home, plus a growing maturity in the team.

“After we lost to Cornwall in the first group game, we knew we had to get better and have improved greatly since then,” said Donohue.

“We have been braver in tight situations and as confidence in our ability has improved we have played with more freedom.

“Having depth of batting was crucial in the win over Berkshire.

“You won’t always be depending on your lower-order batsmen to do the business, but it is nice to know they can when needed.

“We have Dom, Trevor Anning and Zak Bess coming in lower down, all players capable of playing match-winning innings.”

Dom Bess spent much of the winter in Western Australia on a scholarship to the Darren Lehmann Academy. The trip was sponsored by Somerset, where he has been part of the 2nd XI set up for the past couple of years.

He may have played the match-winning innings at number eight against Berkshire, but Donohue has no plans to move Bess up the order.

“It is a bit like asking your fourth or fifth seamer to take the new ball – it is not what they are in the team for,” said Donohue.

Devon are taking the same 12 to Bashley, having slimmed down the original 13 named by releasing Tom Lammonby.

“Tom has exams at school and we are letting him concentrate on those,” said Donohue.

Fast-bowling all-rounder Ryan Stevenson stays in the 12, with a hint be may be fit to bowl after a back problem.

“We are optimistic of getting some overs out of him, but that will be down to Hampshire,” said Donohue.

Devon (squad): R J Woodman (Taunton Deane), D J Wolf (Paignton), L J Lewis (Sidmouth), B G F Green (Exeter), R A Stevenson (Torquay), M C Golding (Bovey), M W Thompson (Torquay), D M Bess, (Exeter), J V King (North Devon), J R Popham (Brislington), Z G G Bess (Sidmouth), T S Anning (Exmouth).

Dorset: L D McManus, M Khan, R M Scott, M J Porter, Webb, M A Wolstenholme, C L Park, J G Digby, S R J Thompson, B Currie, J L N Lilley, T E Jacques, J D J Warner.

Umpires: J S Attridge & M T Ennis