DEVON are through to the last eight knockout round of the Unicorns Cup after beating Group One leaders Dorset by 26 runs in a bizarre game at Bashley.
Devon travelled knowing they had to win to be sure of qualifying ahead of Cornwall as group runners-up – and win they did.
The way Devon won it was somewhat unorthodox though as messers Duckworth and Lewis became involved after a couple of breaks in play.
What started out as a 50-over game was slimmed down to 47 after a late start and an early lunch, then slashed back to 21 overs after a mid-afternoon downpour
Devon reached 154 for six in their 21 overs – skipper Rob Woodman making a top score of 52 – and then the Duckworth-Lewis tables came out.
Dorset were told they had to make 171 to win the game outright as Devon’s par score would have been higher had they known from the start it was a 21-over thrash.
The sub plot was Dorset could afford to lose the game and still finish top of the group if they got to 121. Their net run-rate through the group stages would have seen them through.
If Devon limited Dorset to any score up to and including 120, they would win the game, top the group and have home advantage against Wiltshire in the last eight.
Dorset didn’t fancy finishing second, which would have meant a trip to Cumberland in the quarter-finals, and a 21-over dash to 171 was a bit of risk.
Dorset skipper Chris Park sent his batters out with instructions to reach 121 at all costs – and they did just that.
Masoor Khan opened up with 41 off 47 balls, Lewis McManus had 31 off 19 before he was first out at 64 in the seventh over, and with Ryan Scott making 21 and Mike Porter 28, both at run-a-ball rate, Dorset reached 121 with four overs and eight wickets to spare.
Dom Bess (3-16) was the only Devon bowler to go for four an over or less.
The result was unimportant after that and Dorset pottered along to 144 for five, safe in the knowledge they won’t be trekking to Cumberland but will host Wiltshire instead.
“It was a funny game, but brilliant a times,” said Devon’s director of cricket Keith Donohue.
“Duckworth-Lewis can stitch you up at times, but we batted superbly for nine overs to put on 99.
“Dorset got off to a flier in the first seven overs, but we showed good character traits and didn’t panic.”
Devon’s day didn’t start too well as they lost the toss in damp conditions, were asked to bat first and lost opener Dan Wolf straight away to a slip catch.
Woodman and Liam Lewis (27) got the total up to 55 for one at the rain break. They were parted at 61 for two.
Woodman kept going until he was third out at 107. England U19 all-rounder Ben Green clubbed 41 off 21 balls – three fours, three sixes – to make the target a bit more challenging.
Devon 154-6 (R J Woodman 52, B G F Green 41, L J Lewis 27; S R J Thomson 3-44), Dorset 144-5 (M Khan 41, L D McManus 31, R M Scott 21, M J Porter 28; D M Bess 3-16). Devon (2pts) bt Dorset (0) by 26 runs
