Sunday, April 26
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DEVON opened their defence of the Minor Counties KO Cup with a convincing 44-run win over Cornwall at Exmouth.
Neil Hancock (pictured) top scored with an unbeaten 78 as Devon posted 242 for eight in their 50 overs.
Cornwall were 198 all out in reply with Ian Bishop and James Hudson taking three wickets each to send them packing.
Devon got just the start they didn't want when opener Lewis Gregory was dismissed by the first ball bowled in the match.
Gregory moved up to open in the absence of regular Chris Mole, hospitalised on Saturday night having been hit in the face while playing, and was comprehensively cleaned out by left-armer Alex Smeeth.
Second-wicket pair Bob Dawson and James Hudson posted 55 either side of a short break for rain without too many difficulties.
A bowling change brought a wicket for Cornwall when Chris Hunkin replaced Smeeth and he got a first-ball lbw verdict against Hudson.
Rob Holman, brought into the side to replace Mole, took his chance well with a near flawless knock of 40. He shared in a stand of 55 with Dawson, who stroked his way to 57 before getting out trying to up the tempo.
Tom Sharp's off-spin proved too enticing for Dawson, who was stumped after coming down the wicket on the charge.
Holman got out in almost identical fashion having run down the strip full tilt at Sharp.
What was left of the innings turned into the Neil Hancock show as the Aussie big-hitter laid into the Cornish bowling.
Hancock hit six fours and three sixes on his way to 78 not out from 67 deliveries.
Two if the sixes were massive blows high over mid-wicket in the same over that did nothing for Mark George's bowling figures.
Smeeth came back for three overs at the end and got clubbed around as well by Hancock. Having bowled his first seven overs for 33 runs, the last three cost exactly the same.
During the period when Hancock was cutting loose he shared a sixth wicket stand of 39 with David Lye, whose contribution was a just seven.
The game got away from Cornwall during the time it took them to slip from 37 for one to 44 for four – Ian Bishop taking all three wickets to fall.
Matt Robbins was caught at slip, David Roberts went the same way and skipper Sharp was out lbw first ball.
Former Somerset all-rounder Keith Parsons hung around to make 63, but lacked worthwhile support as the leading candidates were back in the pavilion already.
Chris Hunkin made 23 before falling to a superb catch at point by Gregory. Dan Davies made 30 at the end but Parsons had long gone by then – as had Cornwall's chances.
Devon 242-8 (N D Hancock 77no, R I Dawson 57, R J Holman 40; D F Davies 3-36),
Cornwall 198 (K A Parsons 63, D F Davis 30; I E Bishop 3-25, J M Hudson 3-39l, R I Dawson 2-42). Devon bt Cornwall by 44 runs.
