Devon defeat Cornwall inside two days | 'We have a cracking group of lads who are determined to improve, which they are doing game on game' - Dave Tall

Jamie Stephens – six wickets and a half century in the win over Cornwall

Day One

DEVON completed a 10-wicket win over Cornwall with a day to spare in the Western Division Two meeting at Sandford, writes Conrad Sutcliffe.

Devon bowled Cornwall out twice in the match and at one stage an innings win looked on the cards.

Cornwall limped three runs ahead in the final hour on day two of the three-day fixture before Devon bowled them out the second time.

Devon opener James Horler had a couple of sighters before cracking Tom Dinnis for four to win the match.

It was Devon’s third win inside two days against Cornwall since three-day cricket was introduced into National Counties cricket in 2001.

Dave Tall, the Devon team manager, has had a tough four years in charge that have included rebuilding the squad virtually from scratch and working around the side effects of the Covid pandemic. It seems things are starting to change.

Devon lost a game they should have won against Wales first time out this season due to batting collapse on the second day. When the same thing happened against Cornwall – three wickets lost for one run scored – the outcome was totally different.

Skipper Jamie Stephens (66) and pro Calum Haggett (80) put on 132 which, helped Devon get from 163 for six to 332 all out and a first-innings lead of 164. 

Stephens (3-54) and Hugo Whitlock (3-18) then did most of the work bowling out Cornwall for 167 second time around. 

For Tall the manner of this win was proof positive that Devon are making progress through the rebuilding stage.

“I keep saying we have a cracking group of lads who are determined to improve, which they are doing game on game,” said Tall.

“Anyone watching on the second morning when we lost three wickets quickly probably thought they were about to see a repeat of what happened against Wales in the previous match. That second morning was when we lost it.

“What Jamie and Calum did, and the way we bowled when Cornwall batted again, shows the character of the team and how they are learning from experience.

“If you are hyper critical you could find things we could have done better, but had anyone offered me a 10-wicket win with a day to spare before we started I would have jumped at it.”

Devon now turn their attention to the quarter-finals of the National Counties KO Cup, where they face Dorset at North Perrott CC this Sunday.

Cornwall 168 (A W Bone 56, C F Gibson 25, A Javid 23; C J Haggett 3-15, F Sabir 2-14, H M Whitlock 2-30) & 167 (A Javid 25, A W Bone 24; H M Whitlock 3-18, J A Stephens 3-54), Devon 332 (C J Haggett 80, J A Stephens 66, J D Horler 31, A J Small 54, M W Thompson 27, E H Hamilton 39; E Whitford 3-108) & 4-0. Devon (24pts) bt Cornwall (4) by 10 wkts.

Devon debutant Jonty Walliker - two catches and a wicket in his first outing in three-day cricket