By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

DEVON have it all to do to qualify for the knockout stages of the 50-over NCCA Trophy following a six-wicket defeat at the hands of holders Berkshire.

Hopes were high in the Devon dressing room of a bounce-back win to repair the damage done by losing to Cornwall at Truro in round one of the group games.

Berkshire’s surprise defeat by Hertfordshire in round one only encouraged thoughts that the holders were not the same invincible side that has won the competition ever year it has been played since 2019.

Berkshire were looking to reassert their authority with a convincing win and on that score it was game, set and match to them. The bowled Devon out early on a pitch that showed some signs of wear before the start and knocked-off the runs with more than 26 overs to spare.

Devon now have to defeat Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire in their last two games – and hope for kind results elsewhere – to qualify from the group. 

Anything other than a win over Bedfordshire at Luton this Sunday will signal the end of Devon’s qualification hopes.

Opener Elliot Hamilton top scored with 24 for Devon, who were all out for 113 with more than seven of their 50 overs unused.

Skipper James Horler made 18 – he and Hamilton put on 43 for the first wicket – but after that the scoring tailed off against a constantly changing Berkshire attack.

Devon looked in dire straits at 62 for five and were glad of a stand between Ben Privett (18) and Sam Read (21) that added 32 for the sixth wicket.

The next three wickets went for just one run scored – two for Luke Beaven (3-18), one for Rhodri Lewis (3-33) – and from 95 for eight it was a short stumble to 113 all out.

Berkshire did not hang about polishing-off the target. They batted like a side in a desperate hurry to get home in time for Songs of Praise!

Opener Jonny Connell anchored one end for 18 while Dan Lincoln (21), Euan Wood (37) and later Tom Scriven, on loan from Leicestershire (15) got on with it at the other.

Max Shepherd’s figures of one for 38 from 8.5 overs were almost as good as it got economy wise for Devon. Leg-spinner Will Christophers (1-21 off five) was a fraction cheaper.

Ben Beaumont – two overs for 10 runs – looked in good nick and might feel hard done by not to have bowled another over or two of mixed-bag spin.

The state of the playing surface prompted much discussion before, during and after the match and could feature in the umpires’ report on the game.

Whatever umpires Lavis and Callicott and  may feel and say about the cut strip, Devon coach Dave Tall did not try to offer the pitch as an excuse for the result.

“I think Berkshire adapted far better to the conditions than we did, as shown by the run rates,” said Tall. 

“Our run rate was around three an over – we never really accelerated – and they scored at around five all the way through.

“I thought we batted okay at first, but Berkshire never allowed us to get away.

“I don’t think either side had the best of the wicket, but Berkshire were better batting on it than we were.”