Wolf shines with 67 but Devon go down to Cornwall

DAN Wolf’s debut knock of 67 was Devon’s highlight in the 47-run defeat by holders Cornwall in the group opener of the Unicorns KO Trophy.

Cornwall, who defeated Northumberland to win last year’s final, made 251 for nine in their 50 overs.

Wolf, who won’t be 18 until early June, led the Devon reply with some big hitting as the response reached 128 for three.Dan Wolf - Pinnacle Photo Agency

Keeping up with the asking rate against Cornwall’s miserly bowling had been hard enough while Wolf was in

And once Wolf (pictured, www.ppauk.com) skied a catch to Christian Purchase to give Kelvin Snell his second wicket, Devon got further and further behind the clock

No one made more in the middle and lower order than Liam Lewis (27) as Devon’s batters hit out and got out trying to up the rate.

Matt Golding’s 23 off 21 balls was as good as it got as Devon faded to 204 all out with more than three overs to go.

“Sides batting second in this competition don’t chase 250 to win too often so it was always going to be a tough ask,” said Devon’s director of cricket Keith Donohue.

“Having said that we got to 25 overs needing 150 to win with seven wickets left and should have done better.

“Dan Wolf batted nicely on his debut. He hit the ball cleanly and hit it a long way.”

Cornwall’s total of 251 for nine was anchored by Matt Rowe at the top of the order with 61, supplemented by chip-ins down the order from Brad Wadlan, Tom Rowe and Paul Smith.

Matt Robins went cheaply – a fishing expedition outside off-stump ended in a nibble to slip – but that was Devon’s only success with the new ball.

The shine was starting to go when Greg Smith, the former Essex pro now director of cricket at Penzance, edged Ben Green to keeper Matt Thompson.

Rowe and Brad Wadlan put on 74 for the third wicket and looked largely on top of the bowling. Some indifferent fielding helped the Cornish cause.

Devon turned to the leg-spin of Godling in search of a breakthrough and it wasn’t long coming.

Rowe was first to go – lbw to a full-length ball – the Wadlan ran a flighted delivery and Thompson had the bails off in a trice.

Devon had their tails up now and in their best spell in the innings took four wickets for 21 runs as Cornwall’s 128 for two became 153 for six

Getting Wadlan out for 38 was a bonus as he took a ton off Devon the last time the sides met.

The feel-good factor improved again when partnership breaker Liam Lewis was deployed and had Christian Purchase caught behind for eight.

Devon have picked enough Purchase boundaries out of hedges over the years to know what a threat he is and were glad to see the back of him.

Cornwall’s lower order hit back with Tom Rowe (24), Smith with a brisk 46 and Scott Harvey (18) weighing in to good effect.

Golding with three for 42 pipped Ben Green (2-43) for the bowling plaudits.

Cornwall 251-8 (M H Rowe 61, B L Wadlan 38, P S Smith 46; M C Golding 3-43), Devon  204 (D J Wolf 67, L J Lewis 27, M C Golding 23; G Smith 3-22, K J Snell 3-51), Cornwall bt Devon by 54 runs.