DEVON transformation from Twenty20 also rans to national title contenders will take a step closer if they win through tomorrow’s Super12s round of the Dojo Cup.

To say Devon are habitual under-performers in short-form cricket is putting it mildly! They have not passed the qualifying rounds since 2018, when they reached finals day and lost to Berkshire in the last four.

Devon are already through to the last eight because they topped their qualifying pool. That also earned them home advantage at Exeter in the Super12s. Four pool winners and eight ‘best of the rest’ go into the draw.

Buckinghamshire and Wiltshire meet in a morning match on the County Ground for the right to face Devon (3pm) for a place in the last four.

Super12s will be a new experience for Devon as the competition went straight from four pool winners to the finals day the last time they passed this way.

Tim Western, Devon CCC’s performance director, is genuinely excited about the prospect of a home quarter-final and the potential rewards for winning it. He has hardly talked about anything else for a fortnight.

“We are delighted to have earned the right to host this round after winning our group,” said Western. “The players have earned the chance to compete for a trophy in front of our own supporters at Exeter. 

“Home advantage is something the players have worked incredibly hard to achieve throughout the competition, and it’s a reward for the consistency they’ve shown.

“Reaching the final would be another significant step forward for this group. It’s been a number of years since we’ve been in this position.”

Callum Harvey, who took over the captaincy of the team when skipper Lawrence Walker was ruled out due to in injury, has a straightforward view why Devon’s white-ball game has improved.

“The group know their own and each-others roles really well,” said Harvey. We've adapted quickly to situations, which is so important in such a short format.”

Western fleshed out Harvey’s comments with a more detailed explanation.

“With some changes to the squad and a different methodology, we saw clear signs of progress last season,” said Western. “This year we have taken another step forward, which is a real credit to the captains, players and head coach, Sandy Allen.

“The squad has shown resilience, character and consistency across all formats this season and if we play the brand of cricket we’re capable of, we’ll give ourselves every chance of progressing to the national finals day at Wormsley.”

Success stories so far for Devon in the Dojo Cup have been all-rounder Ben Privett, batter Seb Linnitt and spin bowler Harry Passenger.

Privett – 215 runs, 13 wickets – has been the stand-out player so far. Passenger has taken 14 wickets and Linnitt has scored 237 runs.

Devon include batter Dan Pyle in their Twenty20 squad for the first time this season following his recovery from injury. All-rounders Sam Read and Harvey, who missed their final double-header against Cornwall in the group stage, both return.

James Matravers was withdrawn by Gloucestershire, who require him for Metro Bank Cup service. Pace bowler George Daldorph comes in. He featured against Cornwall.

Wiltshire, who won one and lost one in a group double-header with Devon at the start of their campaign, have called up batters Olli Brown and Jack Mynott in place of Will Naish and Archie Fairfax-Ross.

Buckinghamshire are missing batters Rehaan Edavalath and Aadi Sharma who helped them beat Wales NC twice at Marlow in their last group double-header. They are on Metro Bank Cup duty with Worcestershire and Northamptonshire respectively this weekend so Buckinghamshire have called up Teddy Fleming and Ryan Friend along with Rhys Nicholas and Matthew Pannett.

Devon: R W Davies, C F Harvey, C G Kidd, S J Linnitt, G H Daldorph, H J Passenger, B H Privett. D R Pyle, S O Read, L S Walker, M G Whalley.