Barrow and Trego slam tons of different characters as Devon rack-up the runs against Oxfordshire

Alex Barrow (left) and Peter Trego relax after their stand of 185 against Oxfordshire at Sidmouth

PETER Trego and Alex Barrow both his centuries as Devon racked up the runs and the points on day two against Oxfordshire at Cheshire.

The ton-up batters helped Devon to an impressive total of 375 for four in their first innings – and four batting points to add to four bowling bonuses on day one.

Somerset all-rounder Trego, who was dropped on 23 in the final over on day one, made 103 in a stand of 185 for Devon’s third wicket with county captain Barrow.

Barrow, 52 not out overnight, was overtaken by Trego on his way to a second Unicorns Championship ton of the season.

If, as expected, 38-year-old all-rounder Trego is not offered a renewal of his white-ball contract by Somerset at the end of the season, he clearly still has something to offer a potential employer.

Trego hit 14 fours during a 126-ball stay and never looked like getting out on day two until left-arm spinner Ollie Clarke induced him into a waist-high drive straight to George Sandbach at short extra-cover.

Barrow out-lived his former Somerset team-mate by a distance to make 141. He was fourth out on 309, lbw to Clarke.

There were eight of Devon’s 90 overs to go when Barrow got out, which James Burke and Zac Bess put to good use.

Burke (55no) plundered four fours and three sixes as he and Bess (37no) put on 66 unbroken in hurry.

Oxfordshire, who trailed by 164 runs on first innings, were still one behind on 163 for three at last night’s close. Opener Harry Smith was unbeaten on 75.

Among the Oxfordshire casualties was veteran batsman Richard Kaufman, their leading run getter in 2019 going into the game.  He bagged a pair when Toby Codd bagged him for a second-ball duck to accompany Dan Goodey’s first-innings third-baller.

Dave Tall, Devon’s director of cricket, said it had been a good day but could have been better.

“It would be fair to say we ‘won’ the first two sessions, but Oxfordshire had the best of the third,” said Tall.

“I had hoped we would have Oxfordshire five down overnight, but they have batted well and we still have plenty to do.”

On the big stand between Barrow and Trego, Tall said: “They were two totally different innings.

“Peter gave us impetus whereas Alex ground out his first 50 then started to play some shots.

“Alex has scored a quite a few hundreds in his time, but I doubt there have been a few more satisfying for him given the conditions and the context of the game.

“The way Tregs and Baz batted meant we had wickets in hand to have a real dash in the last eight overs.”

Oxfordshire 211 (J A Cater 65, H G K Smith 39, M R Warner 36; P G Trego 2-21, H M Whitlock 2-55, D J Goodey 2-48, M Pugh 2-34, T J R Codd 2-33) & 163-3 (H G K Smith 75no; T J R Codd 2-45), Devon 375-4 (A W R Barrow 141, P D Trego 103, J E Burke 55no, Z G G Bess 37no). Devon (8pts), Oxfordshire (2).

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