DEVON have work to do on the batting front to secure qualifiction for the knock-out stages of the NV-Play Trophy.
Wins over Herefordshire and bogey side Berkshire in the first two group-stage matches were achieved defending modest batting-first totals by Devon.
When Devon had to chase 252 to win against Wiltshire in round three, they came up short by 24 runs. Victory would have guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals with a game to go. Devon now have to beat Hertfordshire at Sidmouth on May 17 if they want to qualify.
“We have put more pressure on ourselves as a group, but are still confident that we can progress to the knockout phase of this competition,” said Tim Western, Devon’s performance director.
Western said after the high point of registering a first win over Berkshire for eight years, losing to Wiltshire at Warminster was ‘disappointing’.
“Restricting Wiltshire to just over 250 was a good effort after the hosts went off quickly in the powerplay,” said Western.
“We have a strong batting line up but those who got in unfortunately didn't go on to make an individual score of 85-plus, which would have seen us get across the line.”
'Criminal'
James Horler, the Devon captain, said after the Wiltshire defeat that failing to bat the full 50 overs in all three games so far was ‘criminal’.
Western agreed and said the question was addressed straight after the Wiltshire match.
“As group after the game, we talked about going up and down the gears in our innings and more game awareness,” said Western.
“There have been some good individual performances in the start of this season and know that a more complete team performance is just around the corner.”
[O] DEVON have brought in one new face for the annual ECB Showcase Game against Somerset at Exmouth on Monday (5pm).
James Matravers, a batter who bowls, started his cricket career with Honiton and has since played for Gloucestershire 2nd XI and Taunton St Andrew in the West of England Premier League.
Matravers was a South & West Under-15 team-mate of Devon pair Seb Linnitt and James Theedom at the 2022 Bunbury Festival. He went through the Somerset age-groups from under-14 to under-18.
Gabe Gallman-Findlay, a former Scotland under-19 international who featured in the warm-up defeat by Exeter University, gets a second chance to show his prowess behind the stumps.
Lawrence Walker would usually captain Devon in Twenty20 matches, but he is still ruled out due to a broken thumb. Callum Harvey will lead the side.
Devon: C F Harvey, H J Passenger, L W Medlock, G R E Gallman-Findlay, J R Matravers, S O Read, S J Linnitt, M G Whalley, B H Privett, C D Penberthy, C W B Ward. 12th man: J M Knott.
