CALLUM Harvey claimed his maiden five-wicket haul to give Devon the early advantage on a rain-interrupted opening day of the NCCA Cluberly Championship final against Buckinghamshire at West Bromwich Dartmouth CC.
Slow left-armer Harvey, one of five Devon players in their first season of National Counties cricket, found some turn after a change of ends and took six for 60 as Buckinghamshire slipped from 161 for four to 187 for nine in seven overs.
Harvey’s victims included Buckinghamshire captain Alexei Kervezee who held the innings together with an unflustered 89 in two-and-a-half hours.
When Kervezee departed, edging one that turned to wicketkeeper Matt Thompson, he did so with a long look at the pitch. With Buckinghamshire’s slow left-armer Conner Haddow on a hot streak having taken 23 wickets in his last two Championship matches, Devon could face their own trial by spin, particularly as they face the prospect of having to bat last.
Former Worcestershire and Netherlands batter Kervezee had rescued Buckinghamshire when they lost their first three wickets for 14 after he won the toss and opted to bat first under heavy cloud cover.
There was pace and carry in the pitch early on and Moiz Rana was caught by Thompson, who is playing his last match before retirement, for 21 off seamer George Greenway.
Craig Penberthy bowled Billy Dodds and Ewan Cox – who shouldered arms – in successive balls.
Rain, which had threatened all morning, arrived after an hour and delayed proceedings for three. When the players returned Buckinghamshire regrouped with Kervezee and Archie Dodds batting through the afternoon session and seemingly laying the foundations for a substantial total.
But Harvey made the breakthrough when Dodds edged low to Seb Linnitt at gully after he had batted two fours for his 24 and helped Kervezee add 89 for the fourth wicket.
The wickets then fell at regular intervals with George Harvey and Ed Bragg, who was smartly caught at second slip by Greenway, following Dodds. Ryan Friend then picked out long-on where Penberthy back-pedalled and held the catch, which gave Harvey his fifth wicket.
Haddow became the sixth when he appeared astonished to be given out lbw before the last pair of Max Uttley (23) and Tom Weymes (10no) frustrated Devon and added 40 valuable runs in a lively tenth-wicket partnership which took Buckinghamshire to 217 before Uttley was lbw to off-spinner Sam Read.
James Horler, the Devon captain, needed no prompting to highlight Harvey’s contribution. But he said the seamers’ efforts deserved to be recognised
"Harvey was top class again and really tore through that middle order. He and Sam Read put in a proper “Engine Room” performance,” said Horler
“The seamers worked hard early on to take some crucial wickets with the new ball,”.jpeg)
Tim Western, Devon’s performance director, echoed Horler’s comments and added some contextual ones of his own.
“Bowling-out Buckinghamshire out 217 with 20 overs left in their innings was just the start we wanted in this final,” said Western.
“Callum Harvey was the star but also credit to the seamers who used the overhead conditions to pick-up three important wickets before the rain break.
“Craig taking two wickets in two balls shows that he is bedding into National Counties cricket.”
Looking ahead, Western added: “We will be looking to bat the full 90 overs on day two and set a strong platform to push for the win.”
It came as no surprise when Haddow took the new ball for Buckinghamshire but only one over was possible before the light deteriorated and the umpires took the players off.
