Recalled: Jon Triner, pictured bowling against Dorset in the corresponding match last season<br>credit: Conrad Sutcliffe - no re-use without copyright owner's consent

CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING

DEVON have to be think on their feet if they want to progress past the group stages of the Dojo Tweny20 Cup.

That is the learning gain Devon will be aiming to put into practice twice-over against Dorset at Wimborne tomorrow. It emerged from a double-headed day of mixed fortunes against Wiltshire at Instow in the first round of group matches.

Devon opened with a two-run victory in a low-scoring game, but were beaten by four-wickets in the second. Both games were decided in the final over.

Sandy Allen, a former Devon player now heading up the coaching team, felt the team’s failing in match two was not reading the game.

Said Allen: “We were slow to learn you cannot keep bowling in a batsman’s favourite slot where he likes to whack it and expect to get away with it.”James Matravers – already proving an asset for Devon

Callum Harvey, who is skippering the side while captain Lawrence Walker recovers from a broken thumb, said Allen’s comments had been taken on board.

“We have to recognise a batter’s strengths quickly to mitigate them as best we can,” said Harvey.

“And we have to be more adaptable with our plans, which is the nature of Twenty20 cricket.”

Devon were grouped with Dorset last season, when it ended all square at Sandford. Dorset won the first encounter by 77 runs, but lost a nail-gnawing second by just six. They went all the way to the final, where they lost to Norfolk.

Harvey, who played in both games, believes Devon are a tougher proposition now.

“We know Dorset are a strong side, but we beat them in one of the games last year and, with a more experienced and confident side, are capable of competing strongly against them this year,” said Harvey.

Devon have lost Paignton pair Charlie Ward and Luke Medlock from the team that faced Wiltshire. They have ECB National Cup commitments for Paignton. In come Jon Triner and Cameron Kidd.

James Matravers, the recently-signed Gloucestershire Academy scholar, stays on board having demonstrated his strengths against Wiltshire. 

“James showed his class in his knock of 75 at Instow,” said Harvey. He's a great asset with bat and ball.”

The Dorset side shows five changes to the one that trounced Herefordshire twice in a day at Eastnor last time out. Mohammed Abbas and Joe Eckland, both of whom made half-centuries in one of the wins, are among the absentees.

Dorset: W G Tripcony, F D Gordon, B Rogers, D T P Church, W J Chesterman, K M Laird, R Dunne, J Carson, D T Farland, J W B Brehaut, H Dunlop.

Devon: C F Harvey, B H Privett, H J Passenger, R W Davies, S O Read, M G Whalley, J E Triner, C Kidd, S J Linnitt, C D Penberthy, J R Matravers.

Umpires: D J Daniels, N J Piper.