Devon team chief Tall optimistic of win over Cornwall and place in last eight | 'Our run-rate is better than Cornwall’s now and if we win against them we should go through on net run rate' – Tall

Sidmouth CC – venue for Devon

DEVON and Cornwall come face to face at Sidmouth tomorrow (11am) with a place in the last eight of the National Counties Cup up for grabs.

In a pool where Cornwall are the only team to win two successive games, and no one has got to the final round without losing at least once, the race for one of the two qualification spots is wide open.

Berkshire will qualify if they beat Hertfordshire as they will have three wins, which will guarantee a place in the top two.

Cornwall will reach the last eight by beating Devon, but if they or Berkshire lose it is a completely different story. All five teams in the pool could finish on four points, which will mean using the net run-rate formula to decide final placings.

And as Devon’s current net run-rate is superior to everyone’s apart from Berkshire’s, they are still in the running to qualify.

Dave Tall, Devon’s director of cricket, is bullish about Devon’s chances of reaching the last eight.

“If we defeat Cornwall have a great chance of getting through,” said Tall.

“Bedfordshire have already finished their group games and have an inferior run rate to ours.

“Berkshire play Hertfordshire and I cannot imagine they are going to lose that game. If they win they top the group and Hertfordshire cannot qualify.

“Our run-rate is better than Cornwall’s now and if we win against them we should go through on net run rate.

“The main thing is we have to play and win. If the weather gets in the way and it’s a no-result game then we are out.”

Cornwall have the comfort of knowing they will go through if the game is rained off as they would have five points to Devon’s three.

Devon have added Somerset all-rounder Ned Leonard and captain Jamie Stephens to their squad. Jonty Walliker stands aside for Leonard,

Leonard was not released by Somerset for the game against Hertfordshire in round three of the pool programme, which Devon lost by three wickets.

Stephens missed Devon’s first two pool games due to work commitments, which meant the captaincy passed to pro Calum Haggett.

The same XI that lost to Hertfordshire is retained, which includes big-hitting all-rounder Zak Bess.

Devon leg-spinner Ed Middleton and Cornwall batsman Max Tryfanos both featured for Gloucestershire 2nd XI in a four-day game against Ireland A. Gloucestershire lost the fixture by 251 runs.

Tryfanos replaced Ben Smeeth in the only change of personnel in the Cornwall side from the one that defeated Hertfordshire at Redruth last Sunday to go second in the group.

Tomorrow’s match will see the revival of a contest for the Peninsula Cup, which was donated by the late Julian Williams back in 1970 to be played for between Cornwall and Devon in a one-day fixture.

Williams, who died in 2018 aged 91, was a former president of Cornwall CCC. The cup was last played for in 2000.

Devon (from):J A Stephens (Taunton Deane), M W Thompson (Congresbury), C J Haggett (Shapwick & Polden), J D Horler (Exmouth), E H Hamilton (Plympton), S O Read (Exeter), Z G G Bess (Sidmouth), A J Small (Sandford), E O Leonard, (Bridgwater), D J Goodey (Bashley), E W O Middleton (Taunton Deane), F Sabir (Ombersley).

Cornwall:P S Smith (Capt) (Castle Bromwich), A Javid (Berkswell),  A W Bone (St Austell), J P Phillips (Truro), M L Robins  (Wadebridge), M M Tryfonos (Bedminster), C D Lello (Hayle),  J S Thomas (Beacon),  B A Ellis (Twickenham), A W Snowdon (St Austell), E A F Whiteford (Redruth). 12th: C D Kent (Truro).

Umpires:S Lilley & S Hollingshead.Ned Leonard - released by Somerset to play for Deon