Devon's Ben Privett – deserved a hundred said coach Sandy Allen <br>credit: Conrad Sutcliffe - no re-use without copyright owner's consent

By PAUL BOLTON & CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

DEVON took a stranglehold of their NCCA Cluberly Championship Western Division on day one of their title decider against Wiltshire at the South Wilts club on the outskirts of Salisbury.

Devon dropped one batting point when they were dismissed for 310 in their first innings, but that was the only blemish on a near-perfect day as their bowlers then routed Wiltshire for 92 to secure four more valuable bonus points.

Devon did not enforce the follow-on– ‘no benefit’ said performance director Tim Western – but opted to bat again. By close of play they had increased their lead to 232 with all second innings wickets intact by the close.

Sandy Allen, the Devon coach, said: “A first-innings lead of 218 runs was a great effort.Callum Harvey – runs and wickets

“We need to bat properly in the morning to ensure we get a substantial lead.”

Will Naish contributed almost half of Wiltshire’s meagre first-innings total with 45. Seamer George Daldorph, a key performer for Devon in his debut season in National Counties cricket, took three for 37 and spinners Callum Harvey (3-33) and Sam Read (two for six in four overs) ‘squeezed’ Wiltshire.

“George opened up nicely, challenging the stumps every ball, and got plenty of seam movement,” said Allen.

“We then squeezed really well through the spinners and put the pressure on.”

Devon, the defending Western Division champions, appeared to have laid the platform for a more substantial first-innings total when Elliot Hamilton (66) and Sam Elstone (63) opened with a first-wicket partnership of 104.

But their progress was then checked by Wiltshire’s Warwickshire left-arm wrist spinner Jake Lintott who took five for 89, the 12th five-wicket haul of his career in the Championship.

Devon slipped to 129 for four before Ben Privett led the counter-attack with 95 from 73 balls, an innings that included five sixes. Read (30) and Harvey (26) contributed important runs.

Off-spinner Joe King (3-92) and slow left-armer Ed Young (2-37) helped Lintott to secure maximum bowling points.

“We started well on what turned out to be a tricky wicket with good opening partnership from Sam and Elliot,” said Allen.

“When spin came on the game changed and the ball turned from ball one. 

“Ben batted outstandingly – he fully deserved to get a hundred – and took the attack back to the Wiltshire spinners and gave us the momentum.”