SCORECARDS DAY ONE | DAY TWO

DEVON got what they wanted from the two-day training camp on Hampshire Ageas Bowl ground – time in the middle.

Results were mixed with a nine-wicket defeat by Hampshire 2nd XI on day one compensated for by a five-wicket win over the same opposition 24 hours later.

Both games were played on the First Class ground at Southampton – not the nursery ground, as Devon had been led to believe.

Playing on a surface good enough for international cricket was an added bonus to a weekend described as ‘very productive’ by director of cricket Keith Donohue.

“The important thing was we got to play some cricket on a very good surface which you won’t find at club grounds this time of year,” said Donohue.

“The first day was a bit of a chastening experience for us, but we had aclimatised to being outside by day two and performed far better.

“Dom Bess and Matt Golding have been playing overseas all winter, and it showed as they were a step ahead of everyone else to start with.

“Overall it was a very productive weekend which has given us a great start to our pre-season preparations.

“We don’t have long before we start playing for real and I can’t thanks Hampshire enough for making all their facilities available to us.”

England were unlucky enough to run into England U19 captain Joe Weatherley on day one and his unbeaten century helped Hants make light work of knocking off 221 to win.

“As I said it was a chastening experience to be bowling at someone of his quality this early in the season,” said Donohue.

“Players like that aren’t threatened by some of the best balls you bowl at them – never mind the ones that aren’t quite as good.

“Having said that we made a respectable total and it was good to see Matt Golding and Harvey Sargent making runs.

“I was a bit disappointed we didn’t take a few more wickets, but these weren’t average club players we were bowling at.”

Opener Dan Wolf and skipper Matt Thompson both made half centuries, and Dan Pyle just missed out on one, as Devon win with nearly five overs to spare on day two.

Donohue said the bowling was stronger thanks to the arrival of senior players Trevor Anning and Charlie Miles, as well as a tight spell from leg-spinner Golding.

He added: “Batting wise it was a good chase against a decent bowling attack.

“By the end of the second game everyone who needed to bat got one and the bowlers were finding some rhythm.”

Devon also had a look at guest player Jordan Finney, who has done the rounds of youth and 2nd XI cricket with Hampshire.

Finney, who bats and bowls spin has been considering a move to Devon and the team management decided to have a look at him in advance. He made 22 and nine and got hit for eight and over when he bowled.

Devon have another double-header this weekend as they play Gloucestershire 2nd XI at Heathcoat on Saturday, followed by Somerset 2nd XI at Sidmouth on Sunday.

Devon 220-7 (H J Sargent 46, M C Golding 51, B G F Green 32), Hampshire 2nd XI 221-1 (J J Weatherley 102no, A S T West 78no). Hants bt Devon by 9 wkts.

Hampshire 2nd XI 256-9 (F S Organ 53, T Scriven 39, D J Goodey 2-42), Devon 257-5 (D J Wolf 73, M W Thompson 69, D R Pyle 48no, L J Lewis 39). Devon bt Hants by 5 wkts.