TUESDAY, AUGUST 7
WHAT could have been a grandstand finish to the game between Devon and Cornwall at Budleigh Salterton fizzled out into a dull draw when the game was quietly called off by mutual consent with seven overs to go.
Devon, who bowled Cornwall out for 176 in their second innings, were left what would have been 59 overs to make 258 to win.
Ten overs out Devon were more than a hundred short with seven wickets in hand and neither side had any objections when umpires Guy Randall-Johnson and Bill Smith offered to pull out the stumps.
At first glance Devon's target of around four and half an over to win the match wasn't that steep, although appearances can be deceptive.
Neither side had scored consistently at five an over throughout the match and it was always a tall order batting last on a wearing pitch against a largely defensive Cornwall field.
Justin Stephens and Ryan Driver bowled frugally at the time when Devon needed to accelerate. It only needed a couple of wayward overs to bring the game to life, but they never came.
Devon felt Cornwall weren't prepared to take to many risks in pursuit of victory as they were afraid they could backfire on them.
Cornwall could justifiably claim they had won more sessions during the match than Devon did so why should they risk losing when they had a case to claim they had been the better side?
The writing was on the wall as far as an outcome was concerned when the final 17 overs started as the target was hovering around the eight an over mark then.
Once Devon captain Bob Dawson was caught at long-leg having a swish at Ryan Driver, the game was over as a meaningful exercise.
Devon's David Court thumped Alex Smeeth down the ground for two sixes on his way to a quickfire 24 off 13 balls before the plug was pulled.
Opener Chris Mole batted from start to finish of the Devon innings for an unbeaten 57.
Earlier, Cornwall, 15 for one overnight, advanced to 55 before Devon claimed the first wicket of the morning session.
Gary Thomas, who resumed on three not out had moved to 35 when Tom Allin trapped him leg-before.
Having been 55 for one before Thomas departed, Cornwall found themselves 61 for three with Matt Robins out caught behind off Ian Bishop.
Tom Sharp and Driver put an end to any more Devon breakthroughs during their stand of 46.
Devon captain Dawson brought himself on as a partnership breaker and had the desired effect by knocking over Driver for 23.
Cornwall were now in a difficult position, largely as a result of the rain interruptions on the second day, as they had to take chances in the pursuit of runs.
The clock was ticking down on the time left to bowl Devon out to win the match - and Cornwall didn't have enough runs to declare. The only option was to hit out and hope someone came off.
The tactic wasn't a huge success. Skipper Sharp kept going almost to the end, but no one other than Rob Harrison reached double figures at the other end.
Dawson dangled the bait by bringing on slow left-armer Arwyn Jones and Cornwall swallowed it.
Chris Hunkin – bowled by Rob Newman – was the only batsman Jones didn't get out as Cornwall slumped from 131 for four to 176 all out.
Jones threw the ball up, the Cornish batsmen chanced their arms and one by one they trudged off.
Sharp, top scorer with 64, was ninth out when Jones lured him out of his crease and Sandy Allen whipped the bails off.
Three balls later Jones bowled last man Neil Ivamy to finish with figures of five for 14 in the innings.
Cornwall 282 (M L Robins 93, J C J Stephens 53, G M Thomas 36, C P Martin 39; I E Bishop 4-85, R I Dawson 4-52, A Jones 2-53) & 176 (T G Sharp 64; A Jones 5-14 Devon 201 (R J Foan 31no, A P W Allen 30; D F Lye 36no, R J Newman 25; R C Driver 8-63) & 153-3 (C M Mole 57no, N C Bettis 44). Match drawn. Devon (11pts), Cornwall (13).