Devon bow out of Trophy on run-rate after last-over defeat by Berkshire | Thompson (pictured) passes 5,000 runs in all competitions | Clutch of dropped catches proves costly
DEVON’S hopes of a place in the last eight of the National Counties Trophy were dashed by a two-wicket defeat by Berkshire in a last-over nail-bitter on the Blundell’s School Ground.
Matt Thompson and James Horler, captains past and present, shared a stand of 129 as Devon posted 327 for seven in 50 overs on the county side's competiive return to the Tiverton school for the first time since beating Dorset there in 1989.
Johnny Connell’s century gave Berkshire the platform to chase down the runs, which they did with two balls left in the match.
Defeat meant Devon dead-heated with Buckinghamshire in the final table on four points. Net run rate was the decider for a place in the quarter-finals, which Bucks edged by 0.31.
Horler did not need reminding that ‘catches win matches’ when he reflected on the outcome and the reasons for it.
Devon dropped five catches when Berkshire batted, slips that ultimately proved costly.
“You could say we were the architects of our own failure,” said Horler.
“We dropped Connell three times – you cannot afford that with a player of his quality – and Dan Lincoln (75) on four or five.
“Our fielding in the previous three matches has been pretty good, but this time we let ourselves down.”
Devon signalled their intentions from the start with openers Ben Privett (41) and Sam Elstone (62) sharing a 109-run stand.
Horler (78) and Thompson (76) rattled up 129 for the fourth wicket as Devon progressed towards their third-highest score in the 50-over era of the competition. It was 60-overs-each in its early days.
Thompson passed a personal landmark during the stand when he passed 5,000 runs for Devon in all red and white-ball cricket. The stand ended when Horler was caught behind point off Toby Greatwood (3-79).
Thompson finished with five fours and two sixes – one of which sailed over the fine-leg boundary.
Callum Harvey maintained the tempo with 26 off 16 balls, and Sam Read made 21 from seven deliveries in the dash for runs at the end.
Berkshire, top dogs in National Counties Cricket for a decade, approached the chase in a jaunty manner and played their shots from the start.
The passed 200 on the chase in the 29th over with Connell and Lincoln the not out batters in a total of 204 for two, and looked like running away with it.
Then Devon’s spinners – Harry Passenger, Read, Harvey and Jamie Stephens – slowed Berkshire’s progress. What looked like a done deal was back in the mixer with Berkshire 286 for eight with nine overs to go and Connell long gone for 104.
Ninth-wicket pair Rishton and Sulaiman Akhtar got Berkshire down to 28 to win from the final three overs, which was steep but do-able. The turning point was an over from Stephens that went for 19. Nine to win off two was definitely do-able and Berkshire did it with two balls to spare.
Horler said it although it was a tough defeat to stomach, there were positives to take from it.
“It feels like the opposition did not beat us, but that we beat ourselves,” said Horler.
“Considering the position we were in with 20 overs to go, the fight we showed to get back in it was really impressive. All the spinners bowled really well to give us another chance.
“Berkshire are a fine side and have batters coming in at nine and ten capable of getting them over the line in this type of cricket.”
