By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE at SIDMOUTH
DEVON have some catching-up to do against Cheshire on day two of their Western Division cruncher against Cheshire at Sidmouth.
Both counties are fighting to avoid relegation from Western Division One – and if Devon lose they will be as good as on their way to Division Two with a game to go. Victory will give Devon another chance to save themselves by defeating Oxfordshire at Banbury in the final round of fixtures.
It was advantage Cheshire at the end of day one at sweltering Sidmouth. They lead by 177 runs after limiting Devon to 120 for four in 37 overs’ batting time last night.
Cheshire totted-up 287 all out in the 71st of the 90 overs available to the with Harry Dearden top scoring on 55.
Robert Sehmi (44) and Sam Perry (41) put on 79 for the third wicket to repair the early damage done by Matt Skeemer, who dispatched both openers.
Sehmi had a pre-lunch half-century in sight when he departed caught-and-bowled to Max Shepherd. Cheshire players thought it was a bump-ball catch and not out. Umpires Smith and Piper conferred and stuck with the original decision.
Dearden, in straight after lunch at 113 for four, pushed the score along to 197 for seven with contributions from Perry, Nick Anderson and Kevin Carroll (21).
Kazi Syzmanski struck twice in successive overs as Cheshire briefly slowed to 201 for eight.
Although Devon probably would have accepted bowling-out Cheshire for less than 300 after losing the toss, views may have altered after 86 was added for the last two wickets
Ninth-wicket pair Chris Sanders (28) and Dan Wilson (43) showed admirable stickability to add 56. Wilson’s boundary shots through the off-side were anything but standard fare for a number-10 batsman.
Tail-ender Xander Selby shored-up the other end from Wilson during a final partnership of 30, That’s not bad for a last wicket stand. It earned Cheshire a precious batting bonus point, which could come in handy when the final adding-ups are done.
Highlights in the field for Devon were three wickets each for Skeemer (3-52) and Szymanski (3-66) and two for Max Shepherd (2-65).
Devon opener Sam Elstone moved-on from his debut disappointment against Cornwall at Truro – out for a duck twice – with a top score of 67 on his home ground.
Skipper James Horler went cheaply – caught in the gulley for five – and Matt Thompson was caught in the cordon for two. Cheshire have unhappy memories of Thompson scoring two tons in the match at the same venue earlier in his career.
Lawrence Walker ground out a dozen before a change of bowling sent him on his way to another catch in the cordon. Wilson was the bowler.
Elstone, nine fours from 97 balls faced was fourth out. Sanders snared him leg-before. Calum Haggett (20no) and Ben Beaumont (7no) steered Devon to the close of play without further mishap.
