DevonCricket

DEVON v WALES REPORT - SUNDAY, MAY 14 2006

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DAVID Court and Neil Hancock dragged Devon out of trouble largely of their own making to clinch a four-wicket win over Wales in the Minor Counties KO Cup yesterday.

   Wales were dismissed for 167 at Exmouth with off-spinner Andy Procter (pictured, right) claiming four wickets for 33 runs and skipper Bob Dawson two more at a cost of 18.

   Torquay's Matt Hunt made an early exit when he pulled a short ball straight to mid-wicket with the score on eight. Three more wickets fell in the space of seven balls as Devon's position worsened.

   Dawson had his leg-stump laid out by Adam Shinglar, replaying the Devon skipper for similar treatment dished out to him at the end of the Wales innings.

   Richard Foan was pouched at slip in the next over, followed by David Lye caught behind to leave Devon 19 for four. All four of them would probably play a different shot to the same ball if they had another chance.

   Wales had the wind in their sails, but were soon on the defensive as Hancock and Court launched a counter offensive.

   Both played their shots from start – Hancock hitting opening bowler Hugh Waters for two boundaries in the same over – and the stand pelted along to 71 before it ended.

   Hancock came out to drive Mike Beecham and had his off-stump knocked back.

   Another wicket then could have made things interesting, but Wales got no more change out of Devon until the target was down to two runs.

   The stand that killed Wales off was put together by Court (pictued. left) and Somerset's dual-registered left-hander Rob Parsons. It should have taken Devon all the way.

   Court had reached 60, with a six and eight fours, included, when he came down the wicket to spinner Carl Roberts, missed and didn't bother looking round to square leg for the umpire's verdict.

   Woodman waited for the bad ball to come along before hitting it for four to conclude the chase and take his own score to 44 not out.

   Wales brought down a side comprised largely of Glamorgan Academy players whose learning curve will have advanced a few degrees.

   One of things which should have sunk in is the danger of playing the sweep shot too often as three of them got out that way – on caught, one lbw and the other stumped.

   Exeter gloveman Will Hanson, in the side as Budleigh's Sandy Allen was absent, had an impressive first outing for Devon that featured three stumpings, a catch behind and a smart piece of glovework to run out Waters from Woodman's throw.

   Wales' top scorer was opener Ridian Harris, who batted on and on for his 67. Ben Wright made 33 before falling to a sharp catch at mid-on by a tumbling Hunt, but only Beecham (22no) made more than 10 after him.

   After Harris went at 129 for five – Procter trapping him in front sweeping – Beecham saw most of his partners go in quick succession, the last two in the space of three balls to Dawson.

   Victory puts Devon level on points at the top of the table with Cornwall, who beat Berkshire by eight wickets at Truro yesterday, and Dorset, whose turn it was for a day off in the five-county pool.

   Devon will install themselves as favourites to win the pool, and qualify for the knock-out stages, if they beat Berkshire at Finchampstead this Sunday.