Max-points draw against Herefordshire keeps Devon top of the Western Division One table | 'Unfortunately, there were not enough overs left and, frankly, taking all 10 wickets was going to be a huge ask' – skipper James Horler
DEVON remain top of the Cluberly National Counties Championship Western Division One despite being unable to force a result against Herefordshire, writes Conrad Sutcliffe.
Devon – 362 all out and 420 all out second time around – left Herefordshire 39 overs on the third and final day at Eastnor to make 342 to win. With ten overs to go, and the game going nowhere, the captains shook hands on a draw. Herefordshire were 174 for four at the time,
“Scoring 342 in 39 overs was always going to be a tough one for Herefordshire to chase, but we felt if we got early wickets we might put some pressure back on them,” said James Horler, the Devon captain.
“Unfortunately, there were not enough overs left and, frankly, taking all 10 wickets was going to be a huge ask.
“After some pressure put on us at the end of day two and the start of day three, we were pleased to come out with a full, bonus-point draw.”
Had Devon declared on the third day, instead of batting on, there could have been more time available for a bowl-out win. Horler was no convinced.
“We were looking to just continue batting as the pitch was still very flat, and the short boundary meant taking 10 wickets and defending a score would be difficult,” said Horler.
A draw was enough to send Devon into the final round of fixtures at the end of August with an irrelevant one-point lead over Berkshire at the top of the table.
As Berkshire have already completed their fixtures in a five-team table, they cannot overtake Devon.
The figures that matter are Devon’s 11-point advantage (45pts) over Oxfordshire (34), whom they play at Sidmouth in the last round, and the 12 points between them and Herefordshire (33).
Cornwall, propping up the table on 28 points, are not a threat. Their priority against Herefordshire in the final round is to do enough to avoid relegation.
“With Oxfordshire and Berkshire drawing at Thame, we remain the only side with a win in the division this season,” said Horler.
“It is in our hands against Oxfordshire at Sidmouth. Win and we are Western Division champions.
Batting Devon highlights on days one and two started with centuries for Matt Thompson – his seventh in three-day cricket – and a maiden ton for Callum Harvey.
Days two and three brought half-centuries for Horler, Thompson, Lawrence Walker, Harvey and a near miss for Luke Medlock (49). A 93-run stand between ninth-wicket pair Jamie Stephens (43) and George Greenway (35) was a bonus.
When Herefordshire batted first time around there were tons for Matt Pardoe (126) and Tom Cornall (174). Spin duo Harvey and Read claimed four wickets each for Devon. Harvey, easily Devon’s man-of-the-match, took three more in the final session for game stats of seven for 191 from a combined total of 38.5 overs.
Reflecting on Devon’s highlights, Horler said: “It was great to see runs throughout the order.
“Lawrence Walker got back into the swing of things and Luke Medlock was unfortunate not reach his maiden National Counties half-century.
“Cal Harvey again showed his class and we were helped by some handy, lower-order runs from Jamie and George.”
[O] BERKSHIRE will finish a season empty-handed for the first time since 2015 after Oxfordshire batted through the final day for a draw at Thame.
It meant Berkshire completed their season with a fourth straight draw and, as they can no longer finish top, they will have to hand over their Western Division title next month.
