CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING
DEVON will take a huge step towards the Super12 round of the Dojo Twenty20 Cup if they can do the double over Herefordshire in tomorrow’s two-match date at Blundell’s School (11am).
Back-to-back wins over Dorset last time out took Devon to the top of their five-team qualifying pool, three of whom go through to the next stage.
Repeating that feat would keep Devon top of then shop with one round to go – and virtually guarantee qualification with time to spare.
And if Dorset slip up against Cornwall at St Austell, Devon would be certainties to go through. The next target becomes finishing top of the group to ensure home advantage in the Super 12s. And that will rest on a double-date with Cornwall at Werrington in round four.
If Devon finish top of the group, the Super12 round will be played on the County Ground in Exeter.
Lawrence Walker, Devon’s T20 captain who missed the first two rounds due to a broken thumb has been given a medical all-clear to play and returns to the side. But not as skipper.
Callum Harvey has piloted Devon to three wins in four starts so far and retains the caretaker captaincy for the Herefordshire tussles.
“It is great having Lawrence as a batsman and the idea is to ease him back in,” said Harvey.
“Lawrence has not played any cricket this season, so getting him to captain the side, concentrate on his own game and worry about other people’s as well is asking a lot.”
Tim Western, Devon CCC’s performance director, said Walker’s return from a broken thumb is a ‘big positive’, not that he has been detached from the squad during his absence.
“Lawrence has never really been ‘away’ from the group,” said Western. He has been part of our selection conversations throughout, offering that calm leadership presence he’s known for and showed last season.”
Walker’s return will compensate for the absence of James Matravers, whose Gloucestershire commitments are a priority at the moment.
“Although Jamie will be missed with bat and ball, Lawrence is a batter and Charlie Ward is back and will fill the bowling role,” said Harvey.
Ward impressed against Wiltshire at North Devon in the first round, but missed the Wiltshire encounters due to clashing club commitments with Paignton.
Bowling has largely been Devon’s strength so far in the short-format game due to finding a successful format based on spinners.
“Our spin quartet (Harvey, Passenger, Read and Whalley) has been important, backed Ben Privett and Craig Penberthy with the new ball and at the death,” said Harvey.
Western echoed Harvey’s views on the bowling department, and had a few words to add about the batting.
“When bowling, we have taken important wickets in the powerplays – and been more disciplined at the death,” said Western.
“As a batting group, we are beginning to understand how to control tempo rather than chase it.
“We are pushing the squad to show a growing maturity in key moments.”
Devon easily defeated Herefordshire in the 50-over competition back in April, not that Harvey is reading much into that.
“When it is batter against bowler, anything can happen,” said Harvey.
Devon: C F Harvey, B H Privett, H J Passenger, R W Davies, S O Read, M G Whalley, L S Walker, C Kidd, S J Linnitt, C D Penberthy, C W B Ward.
Herefordshire: O H Cox, J B Cox, G H Rhodes, C E W Bennett, L A Tulacz, L J Powell, R Trattell, R B S Venkataraman, J W Rudge, C M Baker-Smith, B J Clarke.12th: H Mahmood.
Umpires: S E Lavis, S Lilley.
