DEVON Lions have some catching-up to do on day two of their game against Cornwall Choughs at Plympton.
The Lions went into day two of three 311 runs behind on first innings have got to 43 for three at the end of day one.
Cornwall demonstrated the benefits of playing three-day cricket as a development exercise by recovering from a patchy start to reach 354 all out in the 86th of the 90 overs available to them.
Devon dominated the morning session and had Cornwall an edgy 85 for five before the recovery started with a stand of 80 between Elliot Stoddard (38) and George Rickard (45).
With at least 44 overs batting time left, the bottom half of the Cornwall order could get in, get settled and get on with it. That’s exactly what they did.
Jack Ivamy (71), Haydn Ayres (35) and Tom Fox-Dean (52) all contributed to adding 184 for the last three wickets. Ivamy and Fox-Dean put on 91 for the ninth wicket.
“As the ball became softer, Cornwall were able to make a couple of good partnerships and wickets were hard to come by in the afternoon session,” said Tim Western, the Devon CCC performance director.
The rigors of bowling all day is another learning gain in long-format cricket. Sticking at it brought two wickets each for Devon’s Callum Williams, Cameron Kidd, Sam Ford and Josh Farley.
“It was a good workout for our players and they were challenged,” said Western. “At times, we lacked a bit of control but overall, our young seam attack acquitted themselves very well and would have benefited from the experience.”
Western said while the first-innings deficit looked sizeable, and Devon’s reply hesitant, it was important to put it into the context of the game.
“Cornwall’s total may seem large, but it was just over four runs per over on a good batting wicket and lightning outfield,” said Western.
“It is always difficult to bat in a short session just before close and Cornwall bowled well to remove Suresh, Haffenden and Hopkins. Matt Whalley and Cameron Kidd calmed matters down and will resume at the start of day two at 43 for three.”
