DEVON’S batters have some work to do against Oxfordshire on day three to turn a strong position into a winning one, writes Conrad Sutcliffe.
Day two at Banbury ended with Devon on 148 for five, which gave them a lead of 169 going into the third and final day.
Sandy Allen, the Devon coach, said it is up to the batters to back-up what the bowling unit did either side of lunch.
“We spoke before we started about it being a war of attrition on this pitch, which isn’t one you are going to run through a side on,” said Allen.
“We talked about building pressure, slowing the run rate and forcing errors. And we did well to bowl Oxfordshire out 21 short of what we got.
“When we batted we were a bit tentative at times and gave away a few soft dismissals. It would have been nice to be three of four down overnight, not five.
“We need at least another 100 – a 300 lead would be nice – although a few more than they got first innings would be a psychological advantage.”
Oxfordshire, 72 for one overnight, were bowled out for 266 with opener Amogh Karpe getting all the way to 99 by lunch then getting caught at slip after going back out.
Karpe’s demise, the first of five poles for spinner Callum Harvey (5-87) began a steady decline from 206 for five to 266 all out
Sam Read (2-24) helped things along by bowling Sravan Konidenaityh with the first ball he spuin dowm to him.
Harvey completed his five-wicket haul by bowling last man Oliver Armstrong, who shouldered arms and let the ball past!
Devon’s second innings started slowly with opener Elliot Hamilton caught behind and skipper James Horler in and out for a six-ball lbw.
Seb Linnitt and surviving opener Sam Elstone (41) batted time to push the score along to 60 for three. Losing both five runs apart meant Matt Thompson and Ben Privett had to rebuild all over again.
Privett was fourth to trudge back to the pavilion: run-out for 31 with the score 110. Thompson (38) and Matt Matravers (15no) saw Devon through to the close without further calamities.
