DEVON completed their warm-up programme with a convincing nine-wicket win over Somerset 2nd XI at Sidmouth.
Serious cricket starts on Sunday with a Unicorns Trophy game against Dorset at Instow – and Devon go into it in form.
Four warm-up games have produced two draws with Hampshire 2nd XI, followed by back-to-back wins over Gloucestershire 2nd XI and Somerset.
Somerset sent a strong side to the Fortfield – six England U19 players, two Scotland World Cup players and Zimbabwe Under-17 batter Eddie Byrom – which hinted they were taking the game seriously.
Devon stuck Somerset in and bowled them out for 103 in the 30th of their 50 overs – Dan Goodey taking four wickets and Scott Barlow three.
Devon’s catching – one lapse apart – was out of the top draw as Somerset nibbled at and nicked the swinging ball and paid the price.
Somerset went from 34 for two to 38 for six under pressure from Goodey (4-12) and Barlow (3-11) and were 50 for eight with Louie Shaw went in to join Dom Bess.
Shaw was dropped in the slips before getting off the mark, which was a little costly for Devon as he and Bess put on 52 for the ninth wicket.
Josh King broke the stand when he bowled Bess for a top score of 32. Last man Ollie Sale was soon picked off by the returning Goodey.
Devon knocked off the runs in just 27.3 overs, led to victory by opener Liam Lewis with an unbeaten 49 on his home ground.
Lewis and Finlay Trenouth put on 41 for the first wicket before Ben Green had the latter caught behind.
Alex Barrow, released by Somerset last season, was unbeaten on 33 when the winning post was passed.
Lewis didn’t hang about at the end, slog-sweeping Bess for two sixes high over mid-wicket.
Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket, said the game could not have gone much better.
“Somerset may regret not treating the new ball with a bit more respect, but it was an accomplished performance from us,” said Donohue.
“We bowled in good areas and took almost all of our catches.”
Devon have seam-bowling gaps to fill this season and Goodey appears to be top of the list to come in.
Donohue wouldn’t be drawn on the make-up of the Trophy side, but agreed Goodey was an improving player.
“All our bowlers did well in this game, not jut Dan but Hugo Whitlock and Scott Barlow, who showed his huge experience at this type of cricket,” said Donohue.
“It was nice to see Josh Bess bowling flat out again as that gives us an extra option.
“Over the pre-season games Dan Goodey has found the knack of taking wickets.
“We are in a good position going into the Dorset game with selection decisions to make and players who have had worthwhile time in the middle.”
Somerset 103 (D M Bess 32; D J Goodey 4-12, S Barlow 3-11), Devon 104-1 (L J Lewis 49no; A W Barrow 33no). Devon bt Somerset 2nd XI by 9 wkts.
