SCORECARD

DEVON are through to the last four of the Unicorns Trophy following an unlikely seven-run win over Cumberland at Barrow in a rain-affected game.

Captain Matt Thompson batted from first ball to last for Devon to make a century in their total of 236 for nine.

Cumberland went off in hot pursuit, only for rain to force the teams off twice, secondly at 112 for four.

Out came the Duckworth-Lewis tables and, after one false restart, Cumberland were told they had to make 50 to win in four overs.

They got off to a flying start – Charlie Miles was biffed for 16 in the first of the four overs – but Zak Bess and Josh King reined things in with three wickets in two overs – the big one former England U19 star Gary Pratt.Last over - Josh Bess

It came down to Cumberland needing 18 to win off the last over bowled by Josh Bess with three wickets left.

Will Purser was caught slogging the first ball he faced, Chris Williams was run out two balls later and 12 to win with tail-ender Chris Hodgson on strike with two balls to go was too tall an order.

So, against the odds, Devon’s patched-up side are through to the last four of the competition and a date with Herefordshire at Sidmouth on July 10.

They travelled to Barrow without six of the side who defeated Dorset in the final pool game to qualify for the last eight.

Three of the team had never played a one-day game for Devon before – and Jordan Finney had never played any sort of game for the county. The former Hampshire youth player was brought in as a Friday night replacement for injured England U19 all-rounder Ben Green.

Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket, described the performance as ‘awesome’ and heaped praise on his team.

“It can be a real lottery once Duckworth-Lewis comes into the equation, and you have to keep your nerve,” said Donohue.

“Fifty to win off four is steep, but 34 off three isn’t and that was the test for us.

“Zak’s over was the big one – two wickets including Pratt and only a handful of runs.

“Twenty-seven off two and you start to think it can be done and 18 off the last was asking a lot of them.

“Josh is the most experienced bowler we have at this type of cricket and just the man for that situation.”

In all the excitement of the last few overs, it would be easy to overlook Thompson’s contribution.

Thompson was run-out off the last ball of the Devon innings having faced 106 balls, 13 of which went for boundaries.

Thompson saw Devon through a turbulent patch when they were reduced to 27 for three and found eager running mates n Matt Goulding  (33) and Dom Bess (35) in stands of 68 and 50.

Dom Bess, dropped second ball, put on 40 more with cousin Zak in six overs, one of the reasons Devon added 112 in the last 10.

Bess made the best of his reprieve by making a typically brisk 35 off 28 balls with two fours and three sixes in a stand of 50.

When Dom Bess departed cousin Zak Bess joined the skipper and the runs kept coming.

Some brisk swishing from Josh King – 16 not out off eight balls – in support of Thompson put on 42 from the last 20 balls.

Donohue said Thompson had been the cornerstone of a great effort by the batters.

“Because Matt batted all the way through he was able to hold things together when it got a bit sticky,” said Donohue.

“Everyone battled away and there were some really important stands involving Dom Bess and Matt Golding to help us along.

“By the end Thommo was really climbing into a few shots and the others were following his example.

“We made a decent score and no one could say we didn’t work hard for it.”

The other semi-final will be between Staffordshire, who defeated Norfolk in a bowl-out, and Dorset.

Devon 236-9 (M W Thompson 105, M C Golding 33, D M Bess 35; M H McKiernan 2-13, C J Williams 2-57, W R J Purser 2-39), Cumberland  154-9 (G Knight 29, W D C Hale 23, G J Pratt 22; J J Bess 2-37, Z G G Bess 2-19). Devon bt Cumberland by seven runs.