DEVON retained their Western Division One tile in the NCCA Cluberly Championship and secured a place in next month’s final by beating Wiltshire by 194 runs inside two days at the South Wilts club in Salisbury.
Although Devon were bundled out 189 in their second innings – nine batters made double figures but none reached 30 – they had taken such a firm grip on the match on the first day that the outcome was never in doubt.
Ben Privett made 95 on day one and there were half-centuries for Elliot Hamilton and Sam Elstone in Devon’s total of 310 all out. George Daldorph and Callum Harvey took three wickets each as Wiltshire were bowled out for 92.
Wiltshire were left to chase an improbable 408 second time round on a turning pitch but got just over halfway and were bowled out for 213.
“We knew we needed to deliver against an experienced and strong Wiltshire team, who have also had a great season,” said Tim Western, Devon CCC’s director of performance.
“We knew that this was a winner-takes-all game and we delivered.”
Seamer Daldorph continued the impressive start to his National Counties career – four games, 15 wickets, average 17.47 – by taking four for 27 on day two with spinners Harvey and Sam Read combining to share the other six wickets.
There was resistance from Jake Lintott (62) and Jake Goodwin (45) but not sufficient to stretch the match into a final day.
Devon’s win meant that Wiltshire off-spinner Joe King’s six for 94 in the second innings and three more for Lintott were relegated to footnotes.
Tim Western, Devon CCC’s performance director, said unlike last season’s Western Division One title achieved with just one win in four games, this one was totally emphatic.
“To retain the Western Division title is something the players should be incredibly proud of and is testament to the standards this group sets for itself,” said Western.
“This was an engrossing and fast game of cricket and a statement performance from a group who have been outstanding all campaign. Three wins and a draw show our dominance.
Devon will meet either Buckinghamshire (again) in the four-day final at West Bromwich Dartmouth starting on September 6. The Eastern Division One title went their way after they defeated Cambridgeshire in the final round of matches. Suffolk, who were top but could only draw with Staffordshire.
Devon lost to Bucks by 19 runs in last year's low-scoring final, and also to the same opposition in the 2023 play-off at the same venue.
“This is a chance to address the hurt of last year’s narrow loss and to show the quality and depth that has driven us all season,” said Western.
“This group wants to be recognised as the best red-ball side in National Counties cricket.”
Devon now turn their attention to white-ball cricket and the Dojo Twenty20 Cup finals day at Wormsley on Sunday where they have been drawn against Berkshire in the afternoon semi-final.
The winners of that tie will play-off against Staffordshire or Bedfordshire, who meet in the morning semi-final.
