Devon Cricket Board - Woodman slams new Devon KO cup record

Woodman slams new Devon KO cup record

Eugene Park rugby ground in Ebbw Vale, where Devon defeated Wales by 95 runs

MAY 15

   ROB Woodman broke one record and helped smash another as Devon strolled to a 95-run win over Wales at Ebbw Vale.

   Woodman, ex-of Somerset and Gloucestershire, marked his Devon return with 67 in the Minor Counties Cup win over Wiltshire last Sunday.

   Devon made it two wins in the group stages of the competition after Woodman scored a new county best in the cup of 154 and helped break the third-wicket partnership record in a total of 300 for six.

   Woodman and Josh Bess put on 231 for the third wicket, smashing the record of 156 set by Nick Folland and Andy Pugh in the 1998 final win over Shropshire at Lord’s.

   On the way to that final Pugh hit 145 against Gloucestershire at Bristol University, which was the other record to fall.

   Woodman, who played for England at U19 level, still holds hopes of getting back into the First Class game. Roger Newman, Devon’s director of cricket, said the young all-rounder is going the right way about it.

   “Watching Woody bat made me think there must be some cracking players in county cricket these days if they can afford to let him go,” said Newman.

   “It is all very well going out and making a pretty little 60 or 70 but that isn’t going to get you back into the pro game.

   “You have to murder the opposition, which is exactly what he did.

   “It was a great partnership, but you have to feel a bit sorry for Josh Bess getting out for 97.

   “There are lesser players than Josh on county staffs – I know from my time running the academy at Warwickshire - and if he keeps putting in polished performances I can see someone showing an interest in him.”

   County contracts and record-breaking feats were the last thing Woodman or Bess would have been thinking of when they met up in the middle during the second over at eight for two.

   Once Bess got over his initial instinct to smash every ball for four, the partnership settled into a routine. The two batsmen virtually matched each other run for run up to the early 90s with both seemingly set for centuries.

   Woodman got there with a four through long-on, but Bess was out three runs short of his, caught looking to clear the inner ring of fielders.

   With wickets in hand in the last 10 overs, Devon hit out and lost three more wickets in the process.

   Neil Hancock was yorked, Dave Lye was caught driving and opener Woodman was caught at deep square leg in the final over, looking to add a sixth six to his tally.

   Ian Bishop bowled tightly for figures of three for 31 to put Wales behind the clock from the start. They were 83 for five at half way and out of it.

   Aneurin Norman (30), Tom Baker (32) and Alex Jones (57) swung the bat effectively, but by the time Jones got out the asking rate was touching ten an over and the game long over as a contest.

   Devon 300-6 (R J Woodman 154, J J Bess 97; T R L Maynard 3-68), Wales 205 (A J Norman 30, T J Baker 32, A J Jones 57, S D Thomas 30; I E Bishop 3-31,N D Hancock 2-26, D F Lye 2-42). Devon (2pts) bt Wales (0) by 95 runs.

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