CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING
BEN Beaumont’s maiden Devon century was the main highlight of a three-wicket defeat by Bedfordshire that ended slender hopes the county management might have had in the NCCA Trophy.
Devon needed to win at Luton and have favourable results elsewhere to maintain an arithmetical chance of qualifying from Group Two for the knockout stages.
Despite Beaumont making 104 not out in a 50-over Devon total of 258 for six, a third straight defeat means nothing other than pride will be at stake in the last group game against Hertfordshire at Instow this Sunday.
Dave Tall, the Devon team boss, said Beaumont’s century showed how much the Cornwood all-rounder had improved over the past 12 months.
“This time last year Ben was not sure of a place in the team and did not always have one,” said Tall.
“Ben is now one of the first names on the team-sheet and that is because of the hard work he has put in – here and during a winter playing in Australia – and his own determination to do well.”
Beaumont has been in impressive form for his club side this season, which is one of the reasons why they are top of the Tolchards DCL Premier Division. He went in when Devon were 36 for two and was involved in stands that added 218 runs.
Beaumont said he had one aim when he went out to bat and achieved it.
“I was just looking to bat through and whatever happened would happen,” said Beaumont.
Beaumont shared a stand of 90 with Matt Thompson (54) and another of 83 with Calum Haggett (44). Ned Leonard chipped in 24 towards the end.
Plympton’s Ben Privett had the misfortune to go out to bat with three balls remaining – and came back straight away.
“I felt at the interval we were 20-25 runs short as we chewed-up too many balls in the first 20 overs, when we could have taken singles, and the way the game panned out those runs could have made a difference,” said Tall.
Devon had Bedfordshire wobbling at none for two by the end of the first over. Both wickets fell to spinner Will Christophers (3-35), who was armed with the new ball.
“Opening the bowling with a spinner is not something you see very often at this level of cricket, but Will is getting good at it,” said Tall.
Kashif Ali, on the staff with Worcestershire but dual-registered with Bedfordshire, went in second wicket down and his hundred proved the substantive difference between the two sides.
By the time Leonard had Ali caught behind for 116 the target was 38 to win, which Bedfordshire got for the loss of one more wicket.
“I don’t recall Ali ever looking in any real trouble, but it might have helped our chances had we attacked more at the other end from him,” said Tall.
