Green comes in to Devon squad for Trophy tie against Berkshire

Josh Bess - starred with bat and ball in the win over Dorset. Photos: www.ppauk.com

DEVON team boss Keith Donohue wants to see lessons learned in the Unicorns Trophy win over Dorset put into practice against Berkshire.

Skipper Josh Bess hit a half-century then took four early wickets to put Devon on course for a 59-run win over Dorset in last Sunday’s Group One opener at Instow.

The margin of victory was convincing enough, although Devon stop-started their way to victory at times.

A middle-order batting collapse – six wickets fell for 19 runs on the board – threatened to undo the work done by Bess (53) and Alex Barrow (63) in a stand of 94 for the fifth wicket.

It all came good in the end as Dorset limped to 22 for four in reply – Bess doing the damage – recovered to 126 for five then lost their last five wickets for 30 runs.

Donohue said hard work got Devon over the line eventually, but a tougher approach throughout is needed.

“Games can change very quickly if you don’t respect the ball coming at you,” said Donohue.

Missing - Finally Trenouth“Scores of 300-plus don’t just appear without graft and concentration.

“We had a great start against Dorset, but bad luck and a bit of naivety meant we struggled a bit to get over 200.

“On other days we might get punished for that and the lesson to take forward is we have to do the hard stuff to make the good stuff happen.

“Batting: we have to treat the ball on its merits.

“In the field: back up the bowler with as many dots in the scorebook to put pressure on the batting side.

Devon have made a clutch of changes to the side that defeated Dorset, enforced and otherwise.

Barrow (ankle) is out injured and opener Finlay Trenouth has a school game that takes priority. Somerset have released Ben Green to fill one of the gaps.

Seamer Scott Barlow comes in with Josh King dropping out.

Berkshire have brought in batsman Brandon Gilmour for the unavailable Richard Morris.

Gilmour, who was born in Zimbabwe, scored 128 off 118 balls for Gloucestershire 2nd XI in the week against Ireland A at Bristol.

Berkshire: O Wilkin, J Davies, E D Woods, B S Gilmour, J C Morris, J A J Rishton, D Lincoln, S R Davison, C T Peploe, T M Nugent, C J W Gregory, M T Carter.

Devon: J J Bess, L J Lewis (both Sidmouth), B G F Green (Exeter), M W Thompson (St Fagans), D R Pyle (Exmouth), J F S Dart (Heathcoat), D M Bess (Exeter), M C Golding (Bovey Tracey), S Barlow (Sidmouth), D J Goodey (Plymouth), J A Stephens (Falmouth), H M Whitlock (Bovey Tracey).

Umpires: M D Watton & T Caldicott