Day One | Day Two | Day Three
CONRAD SUTCLIFFE AT BANBURY
Scorecard
ROOKIE seamer George Daldorph snapped-up his first five-wicket haul for Devon in an 86-run win over Oxfordshire at Banbury to shoot 23-points clear at the top of the Cluberly Western Division One table.
Two wins in two starts – and just one dropped batting point so far – have put Devon in a strong position to defend the title they won last season. Wiltshire are the next team in line and have a game in hand.
If Devon do retain the title then Daldorph’s input will be writ large on the credit side of the ledger.
Devon were bowled out for 188 for the second time in the match – Matt Thompson top scoring on 46 – which left Oxfordshire two and a half sessions to make 210 to win.
Daldorph gave Devon the best possible start by dismissing Oxfordshire opener Amogh Karpe with the first ball of the reply, with the assistance of Seb Linnitt’s outstretched arm in the slips.
Devon were glad to see the back of Karpe so soon as he had made 99 in Oxfordshire’s first innings.
Daldorph, playing only his second three-day game for Devon went on to claim five for 34 from 14 overs as Oxfordshire imploded from 59 for three to 88 for eight.
There was the inevitable delay taking the last two wickets as Luke Hayes (37) farmed the strike with a batting bonus point the only realistic target to aim for. Oxfordshire did not make it.
Matt Whalley (2-11) spun out Jack Warner then had Hayes last out on 123 to a catch at long-on.
Daldorph rightly led the team off the Whitepost ground, happily clutching the match ball as a permanent reminder of his first five-wicket return in three-day cricket. Karpe’s wicket was actually his first of any kind for Devon in the red-ball game.
“I had gone 32 overs in my first two games without taking a wicket – I counted them before we went out – and really wanted to start contributing,” said Daldorph.
“The pitch had something in it, the seam on the ball gave a bit of bite and I was helped by some great catches by Seb and Matt Thompson
“As I had only ever taken five-wickets once before in any sort of cricket, this was really special. Now I feel I am contributing too.”
Devon skipper James Horler wouldn’t mind another five-wicket haul from Daldorph in the game against Division One chasers Berkshire, which starts on Sunday at Blundell’s School, Tiverton.
Devon resumed on148 for five, which gave them a lead of 169 going into the third and final day. For the second time in the match the bottom half of the order failed to live up to expectations.
Highlights of days one and two for Devon were first-innings half-centuries for Linnitt and Sam Elstone in a total of 287 all out, and a five-wicket show from Callum Harvey that limited Oxfordshire to 266 all out.
