Devon start Twenty20 campaign against Wiltshire at Instow | Penberthy (pictured) and Matravers in line for debuts

DEVON have to move-on promptly from the disappointment of their NV-Play Trophy exit as their focus switches to the Dojo Twenty20 Cup and a double date against Wiltshire at Instow tomorrow(11am).

Devon go into the meetings still smarting from missing out on qualification for the 50-over knockout competition, despite finishing joint top of their group by beating Hertfordshire at Sidmouth last time out. In a three-way tie with Wiltshire and Berkshire, all on six points from four games, Devon missed out on inferior run rate of just 0.21.

Devon go into the game in confident mood having given a Somerset XI a massive fright at Exmouth last week in a Twenty-20 warm-up game. They lost a thrilling chase by just two runs.

Callum Harvey, who is skippering the white ball side while captain Lawrence Walker recovers from a broken thumb, believes the way Devon played against Somerset shows the current squad is working out how to win Twenty-20 games.

“What we are doing is finding a ‘Devon. Way’ of winning, which we almost did in the Showcase Game against Somerset,” said Harvey.’

“We bat deep, we have spinners who are clued-up how to bowl and back ourselves either defending or setting a score.”

Devon’s recent record in Twenty-20 cricket has been mundane for a number of reasons. Harvey hopes positive cricket will bring additional improvements.

“We need to make the most of the power play when we bat,” said Harvey. “Nothing reckless, but players have licence to take the game to the opposition.”

Seam bowling duo Craig Penberthy and James Matravers will both make their Devon T20 debuts against Wiltshire.

Although Devon have not progressed past the group stage in the Twenty20 Cup since 2018, there is more to that factoid than just poor results.

For four seasons in a row – 2021-2024 – group games were badly affected by appalling weather. Devon should have played Wiltshire eight times in that period: none of the games took place.

It was honours even last season with a win each for the antagonists at South Wilts CC on the outskirts of Salisbury.

Back in 2018, when Devon bowed out in the semi-final to eventual winners Berkshire, Wiltshire were defeated twice on the way to the last four. 

Devon: C F Harvey, B H Privett, H J Passenger, S J Linnitt, J R Matravers, R W Davies, S O Read, M G Whalley, L W Medlock, C D Penberthy, C W B Ward.

Wiltshire: T C C Cheater, J M A Mynott, J Goodwin, E G C Young, C A Shafi, W L Naish, W E S Brown, A B Johnson, A R J Fairfax-Ross, S P S F Freestone, A Pascoe.

Umpires: R Callicott, D R Turl.