Six-wicket win over Cornwall sends Devon to top of Western Division table | Greenway (pictured) points Devon in right direction with four-wicket haul

CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING
Scorecard
Day One | Day Two & part two | Day Three

PACE bowler George Greenway finished with a four-wicket haul on the final day to help Devon claim a six-wicket win over Cornwall to go top of the table in Western Division One.

There was little to choose between the two sides going into day three at Cornwood CC, which began with Cornwall three runs ahead with eight second-innings wickets intact.

Highlights over the first two days were four wickets each for Devon spinners Jamie Stephens and Sam Read, who went on to score a maiden county century on day two. Opener Elliot Hamilton made a dogged half-century before Read got going.

Ben Ellis (4-39) and Max Tryfonos (4-65) were Cornwall’s best bowling performers. No batter made 50 or more, although Will MacVicar (46) and Jake Rowe (46) had near misses.

Devon (301) had a slender lead of 15 after both sides had batted once, which Cornwall (285) deleted by the end of the second day for the loss of two wickets.

Greenway, who had already removed opener Karl Leathley late on day two, bowled Tom Orpe five balls into the morning session to put Devon on the front foot.

Xavie Clarke and Alfie MacDonald were added to Greenway’s collection as Cornwall deteriorated to 48 for five. Greenway, who did not bowl at Cornwall in the first innings, finished with a four-for-34 haul.

“George didn't bowl in a spin-dominated first innings but took his opportunity in the second, ripping out four top-order wickets,” said Tim Western, Devon CCC’s performance director. “George set the tone late on Monday and carried this pinpoint accuracy into day three.”

Cornwall’s match pros Alex Blake (21) and MacVicar (10) delayed the inevitable for a while until Craig Penberthy and Stephens picked them off one after the other.

It was downhill all the way after that to 91 all out for Cornwall as Stephens (3-5), Callum Harvey (1-6) and Sam Read (1-0) spun out the tail.

“Jamie Stephens showed why he is one of the best spinners in National Counties cricket with seven wickets in the match,” said Western.

“The match-up between Jamie and Cornwall’s Alex Blake in the first innings was fascinating to watch.”

Devon had all afternoon to chase 78 to win and got them with just a barely discernible wobble or two along the way. The history of chasing low totals is littered with disasters, which might have flashed through one or two minds during the time Devon dipped from 49 for one to 57 for four.

Said Western: “It is always difficult when chasing a low score to win the game to know the pace?

“We want to play positive cricket throughout and in the wickets we lost it was a matter of not executing the skill.”

Read scoring a century down the order at number seven in Devon’s first innings, and putting on 127 for the seventh wicket with Matt Skeemer (31) showed the length of Devon’s batting resources, something Western sees as a key strength.

“We have a talented and deep batting line-up,” said Western. “I am confident the significant contributions, we need to win games, will come from others in group over the next two matches.”

Matt Thompson, batting first wicket down, made 20 not out and Harvey an unbeaten 19 to secure the win which took Devon to the top of the National Counties Cluberly Championship Western Division One table.

Devon (33pts) are a point ahead of defending champions Berkshire (32), who have played one game more in the four-match programme.

With no injury or availability issues to wrestle with, Devon have already named an unchanged side for the third-round game against Herefordshire at Eastnor. Click here for a brief summary of Herefordshire's game aginst Berkshire.