TUESDAY, JULY 26
DEVON broke one record and gave another one a fright after rushing to a five-wicket win over Wiltshire at Exmouth.
Having spent two days watching the rain fall at Bovey Tracey, and failing to put bat to ball in anger, Devon officials and their Wiltshire counterparts agreed to move the fixture to Exmouth and play a single-innings game instead.
Wiltshire skipper Richard Bedbrook must have wondered afterwards if the journey had been worthwhile after Ian Bishop and Arwyn Jones bowled his side out for just 50 in 32.3 overs.
Devon lost five wickets knocking off the runs, but had 12 points in the bag before the end of the 17 th over.
If Devon have ever won a Minor Counties game inside 50 overs, there's no record of it in the county archives. This was probably the shortest game they have ever played to a conclusion.
Devon have only bowled one side out for less than 50 in the past. That was Oxfordshire, who were dismissed for 40 on the Pressed Steel factory ground at Cowley in 1994. Peter Roebuck claimed nine for 12 in that innings.
Skipper Bob Dawson was in relaxed mood before the toss as he didn't see too much advantage in batting first or second.
“The game wasn't won on the toss as had we batted first I reckon we would have scored at least a hundred and Wiltshire wouldn't have got them,” said Dawson.
“I felt the wicket would get harder to bat on as it dried, and that looks like it was the case.
“Wiltshire were 28 for two, 42 for five and 50 all out. We lost five wickets getting the runs so it's fair to say the conditions didn't get any better.”
There was no indication of the collapse to come as Wiltshire reached 28 for two with Damian Shirazi and Tim Morton the men out – both to Bishop.
The slide started when Tim Hankins tried to hit Jones down the ground and was caught halfway back to long on by a running Trevor Anning.
A combination of bowling in the right areas and holding on to catches close to the wicket, where Tom Allin, Dawson and Neil Bettis all hung on well, did the rest.
Bishop took the top enders out, and mopped up the tail, on his way to figures of six for 23. Jones spun his way through the middle order to finish with four for 28.
Devon lost opener Chris Mole early – he was out lbw playing no shot to Hibberd – then moved to 26 without mishap before losing David Lye and Richard Foan in quick succession.
Lye popped a catch up to forward short-leg then Foan played back to Hibbered and watched the ball roll down his bat and on to his stumps.
Dawson and Dave Court took Devon within sight of victory then Bettis spanked a six over midwicket off Hibberd and it was all over.
Wiltshire 50 (E Abel 18; I E Bishop 6-23, A Jones 4-22), Devon 52-5 (R J Foan 12, D F Lye 11; J Hibberd 2-14, A Kelly 3-33). Devon (12pts) bt Wiltshire (4) by 5 wkts.