SUNDAY, MAY 21

IT'S going to be all or nothing for Devon and Dorset at Sidmouth in two weeks time after rain washed out yesterday's round of group game fixtures in the Minor Counties KO Cup.

   Devon's game against Berkshire at Finchampstead was called off shortly after 2pm when the umpires decided there was no chance of the ground drying out – even if it stopped raining.

   Dorset and Cornwall were due to play each other at Bournemouth, but that game was called off an hour earlier as the Dean Park ground was badly waterlogged.

   Devon stay top of the South qualifying pool with two wins and a cancellation from their three games. Dorset have the same record, but an inferior run rate.

   Cornwall's last chance of qualifying from the group hinged on beating Dorset as they had already lost to Devon and could not afford another defeat. Their single point for a cancellation means they still have a share of top spot, but have no games left to play in which to overhaul Dorset or Devon.

   Who goes through to the semi-finals on July 2 will rest on the outcome of the game between Devon and Dorset at Sidmouth on June 4.

   Devon captain Bob Dawson said he was disappointed not to have played Berkshire, but it wasn't the disaster it could have been.

   “If Dorset had played Cornwall and beaten them that would have been a blow as they would have gone ahead of us on points with just one game to play,” said Dawson.

   “I have said all along I felt we would have to win all our games to qualify for the semi-finals, so nothing has changed really.

   “Cornwall are out of it now as they can't overtake us or Dorset. It's in our own hands; beat Dorset and we are in the last four.”

   “Although we are still in the group, it's just between the two of us. Effectively it is a quarter-final match as no one else can touch us.

   “If anyone has told me three weeks ago on the drive to Falmouth to play Cornwall we would be playing Dorset at home for a place in the semi-finals I would have said ‘I'll take it'.”

   If Devon win they will be one game away from going to Lord's for their fifth final since 1991.

   Devon lost that final against Staffordshire, but returned the following season to beat the same opponents in a game that went into a second day due to bad weather.

   Devon returned to Lord's in 1994 to beat Lincolnshire – Bovey Tracey's Nick Gaywood making a century before lunch – and were back in 1998 when Brixham's Andy Pugh steered them to an eight-wicket win over Shropshire.

   The winning run ended in 2001 when Devon lost to Norfolk. Devon reached the final again in 2002 when it was played at Worcester due to development work at Lord's and were beaten by the Warwickshire Board XI.

   The semi-final will be played at Budleigh Salterton CC if Devon get through.