JOSH Mailling’s maiden Unicorns Championship century put Devon on top going into day two against Herefordshire at Plymouth.
Herefordshire, who won the toss and batted, were all out for 181 shortly after lunch.
Devon’s reply was stammering along at 132 for six after a collapse from 103 for one and the innings needed reviving.
Opener Mailling, at the other end while spinners Ben Twohig (3-79) and Peter Burgoyne (3-56) were whittling through the middle order, was just what the doctor ordered.
Mailling saw off the spinners without offering an obvious chance to either and was unbeaten on 151 in Devon’s close-of-play total of 259 for eight.
Devon go into day two 78 runs ahead, a position they would have grasped with alacrity when they were 49 runs behind with six wickets down and had just lost Zak Bess and Joe Hagan-Burt to Burgoyne in successive balls.
Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket, said Mailling’s knock built on the good work done by the bowlers getting Herefordshire out.
“In the grand scheme of things it looked a bad toss to lose and we could have been on the rough end of the day,” said Donohue.
“There was some zip in the pitch before lunch and the two Plymouth lads (Goodey and Hagan-Burt) showed some promise and picked up a couple of wickets.
“We took the last five wickets quickly after lunch when Jamie Stephens got after them.
“At 103 for one it’s looking good for us, then we had a rough patch and within no time we are six wickets down and still 40-odd behind.
“I am a great believer that if you keep playing good cricket you generally get your reward and that proved the case.
“Josh Mailling batted superbly and when it become tough going at times he found ways of dealing with it. From the 60s onwards he looked very settled.
“Jamie Stephens (20) and Dan Goodey (23) played useful supporting roles and did just what was needed by staying there.”
Herefordshire laboured to 152 for five at lunch and were glad of Burgoyne and Tom Hage for rescuing them from 80 for five.
Hague (75) went three balls into the second session – brilliantly caught by a diving Alex Barrow at slip off Josh Bess – then Stephens set about the lower order.
Four wickets fell for 19 runs added, all taken by off-spinner Stephens. Ninth out for 76 was top-scorer Burgoyne.
Devon lost opener Matt Thompson on 33, but got to 103 courtesy of Mailling and Alex Barrow (29) before the middle order disappearing act.
Herefordshire 181 (P I Burgoyne 76, T A Hage 36, J P Harrison 27; J A Stephens 4-54, J O Hagan-Burt 2-10, D J Goodey 2-40), Devon 259-8 (J H J Mailling 151no, A W R Barrow 29, D J Goodey 23; B J Twohig 3-79, P I Burgoyne 3-56). Bonus points: Devon 7, Herefordshire 3.
