SAM Elstone followed his first-innings century with an unbeaten 55 to send Devon into day three of the Cluberly Championship play-off game against Buckinghamshire with the upper hand.

It would be over-ambitious to say Devon are on top two-days into the four-day showdown between the West and East champions on the West Bromwich Dartmouth ground at Sandwell. But they are in an advantageous position.

Devon emerged from the first-innings phase of the game 11-runs ahead after dismissing Bucks for 279 in response to their own 290 all out.

And an opening stand of 127. Between Elstone and Elliot Hamilton, which frustrated Buckinghamshire for 43 overs, stretched Devon’s lead to 138. Hamilton (70) and nightwatchman Matt Whalley were both removed in the final two overs of the day by Bucks tireless spinner and captain Conner Haddow (2-45). Elstone was 55 not out overnight.

Haddow has floated down 51.4 overs in the match for combined figures of seven for 108.

Tim Western, Devon’s performance director, said: “We are well placed going into day three and looking to build on the excellent work from day two.

“Elliot and Sam have laid the foundations for setting a strong target. Their styles complement each other beautifully, and they continue to take the steam out of opposition bowling attacks with real purpose and discipline.

“Day three is about building a total that allows us to apply fourth?innings pressure.

“The team are confident, calm, and ready to put in the hard yards needed to create a favourable result in this final.”

Five Buckinghamshire batters reached 20 yet no-one made a half-century with Rhys Nicholas and Matt Pardoe both falling for 48 and Middlesex and former England under-19s batter Aaryan Sawant for 42.

Nicholas and Pardoe later dominated the morning session with an enterprising fourth-wicket partnership of 92. Both perished in quick succession either side of lunch.

Nicholas holed out to mid-on from a mistimed pull from short ball from Ben Privett (3-32) and Pardoe appeared as surprised as anyone when he shaped to turn the first ball of the afternoon session off his legs and was bowled by Callum Harvey (3-80)

Josh Lincoln thumped Harvey for successive sixes – but hoisted lofted Privett to mid-off. Daksh Sabherwal then miscued to mid-wicket to give Privett another wicket.

George Harvey and Ed Bragg took Buckinghamshire close to Devon’s first-innings total in an eighth-wicket partnership of 44. Sam Read (2-39) picked-off the tail-enders.

Said Western: We did well to take wickets at important moments, just as bigger partnerships from Bucks were forming. That stopped them from creating a first?innings lead and kept the game firmly in our control.

“The wickets were shared across our six bowlers, and there were some outstanding catches.”