FOUR wickets for members of the Bess family – two for Dom and one each for Josh and Zak – gave Devon the upper hand by the end of day one against Wales at Pontardualais.

Devon, who won the toss and decided to bat, took the scenic route to a total of 261 all out in the 81^st of their 90 overs.

Devon were variously one for one, 63 for four and 185 for nine, so 261 was a decent effort, as was a debut knock of 86 by left-hander Dan Pyle.

Wales had to bat out the final two hours last night and were 105 for five at the close.

The wicket not taken by a Bess was claimed by seamer Josh King.

For Devon team boss Keith Donohue, a lead of 156 going into day two was not something he dared think about during a period when the team lost four middle-order wickets for 18 runs.

“There is a lot of life left in the game and plenty to play for, but we finished the day well,” said Donohue.

“Coming up to lunch we were 63 for four and our lads batted really well to get us to 261.

“We’ve bowled well in the final session – Pedel was tidy, Dom Bess (2-20) bowled with control – and to be 150 odd ahead after being 63 for four is quite a turnaround.

The turnaround was inspired by debutant Pyle, who went in at one for one and came out 156 runs later.

“Dan Pyle batted very well for an 18-year-old lad on his debut and never mind one for the future, he is one for now,” said Donohue.

Pyle and Jack Dart stopped the rot with a stand of 54 for the fifth wicket.  The partnership ended when Dart was dismissed for 33, caught at point off a top edge.

Pyle, who has to return to his A-level exams later this week, was sixth out at 174, leaving Dom Bess to nurse the tail along, at least that was the plan.

Dom Bess had put on 40 with Pyle and added 17 with Josh King before fell to a diving caught-and-bowled by Morgan.

King and Zak Bess – brother of Josh, cousin of Dom – went in a hurry as 174 for six quickly became 185 for nine.

It seemed Devon would be in the field well before tea, but last pair Charlie Miles and Pedel had other ideas.

Miles, whose previous best for Devon was 24 against Wiltshire in 2014, made 47 and fast bowler Pedel 24 in an hour-long stand that kept Wales waiting.

The partnership was worth 85 for the last wicket and took Devon to respectability.

Devon 261 (D R Pyle 86, J F S Dart 33, D M Bess 38, C L Miles 47; A O Morgan 4-75), Wales 105-5 (G C Holmes 23, S J Roberts 29; D M Bess 2-20). Bonus points: Wales 4, Devon 4. Full scorecard