By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

DEVON made it two out of two in the warm-up phase of the season when they defeated University of Exeter by one-wicket in a 50-over game at Sidmouth.

The student side were all-out for 206 in the 45th of their overs – skipper Ben Wells crafting a top score of 75 off 70 balls. 

Devon leg-spinner Ed Middleton had three wickets for 53 runs and there were tidy spells from Jamie Stephens, Matt Golding and Sam Read.

Devon went in fits and starts from 117 for three to 158 for five and 199 for eight on their way to their target. There were lots of chip-ins from the middle order. The key ones came from Ben Beaumont (43), Matt Golding (33) and Sam Read (29). 

When Devon dipped to 201 for nine the students could scent an unlikely win, but last pair James Horler and Stephens got them over the line with more than 11 overs to spare.

As Horler averaged more than a hundred for Exmouth in the Devon League last season, and Stephens has a Devon best of 97 made against Cornwall in 2018, it was hardly a typical last-wicket pairing.

It was another close-run thing for Devon, whose opening game at Instow seven days earlier was a 13-run victory over club side Clevedon.

Dave Tall, the county club’s director of cricket, said the team made hard work of defeating the University.

“We should not have been chasing 207 – and even though we were we ought to have won more comfortably,” said Tall.

“Wells batted well for them, but once we got him out we should have put the squeeze on them.

“The University probably scored 25-30 more than the should have done. Having said that we would have settled for 207 when they were 119 for one.

“Their six and eight batters (Alex Turner, 29 and George Barlow 29) put on more than they should. Neither could play all round the wicket, but we did not test them enough with our bowling.

“The lesson from this game is when you have a side on the ropes you have to be hungry to finish them off.”

Hamilton, who made a century against Clevedon in Devon’s opening game seven days earlier, was in and out for 17 against the students. He was caught at fine-leg attempting to hook Oliver Thilo for six.

Opener James Degg had already gone for 16 by then. He was caught down the leg-side by keeper Ben Wells.

Beaumont made a fluid 43 off 50 balls before he got a ball from Jack Peirce that was a bit too good for him.

Privett, who earlier bowled with pace and fluidity, missed out on runs as he was dismissed for two.

Tall said Beaumont and Hamilton in particular will have learned lessons from their time in the middle.

“You get a hundred one week and not a lot the next – and these things happen,” said Tall of Hamilton’s 21-ball stay.

“Ben Beaumont batted well and had done the hard work to get into the 40s. You have to stay strong after that if you are going to go on and make a big one.”

Devon’s third pre-season game is back on the Fortfield this Saturday against last season’s Premier Tier champions Sidmouth.

The annual game between the county club and the Devon League champions was a regular date on the fixture list up until 1979 and has not been played since.

Devon’s last encounter with the league champions was against Torquay and did not go according to plan.

Malcolm Kingdon took six wickets for 33 runs, and Bill Hatchett claimed three more, as Torquay dismissed Devon for a measly 83.

Gary Wallen made 23 and Hiley Edwards 25 as Torquay, whose side contained eight county players past, present or future, won by five wickets.

University of Exeter 206 (B J J Wells 75, G R Reid 34; E W O Middleton 3-53, S O Read 2-21), Devon 207-9 (B A Beaumont 43, M C Golding 33, S O Read 29; J W Pierce 4-46, O R F Thilo 3-43).