WILL MacVicar’s eight-wicket bowling show for Cornwall against Devon was the main talking point at the end of the first day’s play at Truro.
Cornwall skipper Paul Smith chucked MacVicar the new ball and was rewarded with an eight-for-46 return that bowled-out Devon for 120 after captain James Horler elected to bat first.
It was the best bowling performance by any Cornwall player since the introduction of three-day cricket on the National Counties circuit more than 20 years ago. The previous best was the eight for 49 taken by Tom Dinnis, also against Devon, at Exeter in 2019. It was also the best bowling performance by any player against Devon in the same time frame.
Paul Smith, the Cornwall captain, heaped praise on the MacVicar, saying: “Will bowled magnificently.
“It makes a captain’s job very easy when you can throw a bowl to a bowler and he's picking up wickets consistently for a session.
“Hopefully, with the bat, we can make it a match-winning spell.”
Dave Tall, the Devon team manager, said: “Sometimes you just have to say ‘well bowled’
“Perhaps we were guilty of one or two average shots, maybe a decision went against us, but when you have five caught behind you are doing something right.”
Cornwall did not find runs that much easier to obtain as they were bowled out for 171. Men of the moment for Devon with four wickets each were paceman Kazi Szymanski and spinner Sam Read.
MacVicar, who bowled unchanged for throughout the Devon innings, took six consecutive wickets as Devon stumbled to 111 for eight. His haul included top scorer Matt Thompson (36) and Sam Read for 20.
Harry Southgate, Devon’s schoolboy debutant, showed his mettle by dogging it out for 23 not-out off 55 balls. As 20 of those runs came in boundaries, that is a lot of dots.
“Considering it was Harry’s first game at this level, and the conditions were difficult, he did exceptionally well,” said Tall.
Devon’s bowlers also found something to their liking in the Boscawen Park pitch as they returned the compliment by dismissing Cornwall midway through the 48th over.
Alex Blake, in at 15 for two after a double strike by Szymanski (4-59), top scored with 48. MacVicar and Smith contributed a brace of 27s in the middle order.
"Kazi bowled 19 overs, which was a terrific effort and one he deserved a few more wickets as he beat the bat time after time, said Devon team boss Tall.
Read opened his account (4-38) by removing Blake then worked his way through the bottom half of the order.
Devon, 51 runs behind on first innings, were 29 for two at last night’s close. Both wickets were claimed by MacVicar, who has match figures of 10 for 55… with the power to add on day two!
Spare a thought, perhaps, for Devon openers Ben Privet and James Horler, who have been dismissed twice on the same day of the same match.
If there is another talking point apart from MacVicar magnificence, it could be the 22 wickets that fell on the first day. Perhaps umpires Callicott and Smith will have something to note in their post-match report on the subject?
