By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

DEVON saw all their hard work fighting back on day two count for nothing as their Minor Counties Western Division game against Cheshire at Bovey Tracey was washed out on the final day.

   A solo show by quick bowler Ian Bishop, who scored a career best 49 then steamed in to take four wickets, got Devon back in the match after Cheshire were threatening to run away with it.

   Cheshire scored 249 in their first innings then reduced Devon to 92 for eight before Bishop and Trevor Anning saved the situation with a ninth-wicket stand of 84. Andy Procter and Bishop then shot Cheshire out for 171 second time around, leaving Devon five overs on the second day and around 100 on the final day to make 243 to win.

   Devon were nine without loss over night, but never got the chance to make further inroads into the deficit.

   Umpires Peter Kingston-Davey and David Davies carried out sev eral inspections before deciding around three o'clock there was no chance of getting the game on.

   It was a disappointing end to what had been a cracking game over the first two days with Devon and Cheshire both on top at times.

   But Devon's disappointment was soothed by the news that Berkshire, with whom they shared top spot going into the latest round of matches, could only draw with Wiltshire at Finchampstead.

   “We are still dead level with them and as Cheshire and Shropshire haven't gained any ground on us it's not as bad as it could have been,” said Devon captain Bob Dawson.

   “It's disappointing not to have gone on to win the game as we all genuinely believed we could make 234 to win.

   “There were some freak dismissals in our first innings - Dave Lye and Neil Hancock both played- on, Chris Mole hit a long-hop straight up in the air - and I couldn't see too many of those happening again.”

Bishop was the obvious pick by Dawson for his Man of Match - especially as he seems to have re discovered an appetite for the game he has been lacking in recent matches.

   But Anning, his batting partner when the chips were down and collector of three wickets in the match, also got a pat on the back.

   “Trevor came on in a big way last season and he keeps on improving as a cricketer,” said Dawson.

   “It was good to see Bishy back to his best, but just as good to see Trevor doing well with bat and ball.

   “He looks like a bowler who is going to get good players out - and we've seen again he can score decent runs down the order.”

Devon now have a two-week break before resuming their at tempt to win a third successive Western Division title with a game against Shropshire at Exmouth.

   “Shropshire have had three draws now and that's probably them out of the running,” said Dawson.“But they are a more than reasonable side and are going to be tough opponents for us.”

Cheshire 249 (W Goodwin 43, N C Dumelow 42 M E Cassar 67; A Jones 3-79) & 171 (D N Leech 31, D B Pennett 31, W Goodwin 37; I E Bishop 4-46, A J Procter 3-33), Devon 181 (I E Bishop 49, T S Anning 36; D B Pennett 3-38) & 9-0. Rain stopped play. Devon (8pts), Cheshire (9).