DEVON pushed holders Berkshire all the way before slipping to a two-wicket defeat in the NCA Trophy curtain-raiser at Wargrave.
Devon recovered from a power-play collapse that cost three top-order wickets for 11 runs scored to make 196 for eight in their 50 overs.
Berkshire, going for a fifth successive win in the competition, seemed to be cruising to victory at 130 for three. Then they suffered a collapse of their own.
It was a different story at 158 for seven – Jamie Stephens (4-29) and Will Christophers the bowlers largely responsible – and Berkshire were obliged to Rhodri Lewis for seeing them home with an unbeaten 39.
Dave Tall, the Devon team manager, acknowledged the good parts of his side’s performance, especially as Sam Read, Charlie Sharland and Stephens all finished the match with injuries that either slowed them up or forced them off.
What Tall was unhappy about was the way Berkshire won as Devon gave away too much with both bat and ball.
Said Tall: "We talked before the match about not going mad in the power-play and the importance of keeping wickets in hand.
“What happened? Two half-trackers and a full-toss left us 54 for four and 79 for five was not much better. Instead of pushing it around, there were too many big shots that we paid for.
“Fortunately, Fin Hill (32) and Calum Haggett (75) batted sensibly and got us up to 196, which was a decent score on that pitch.”
The stand of 65 for the sixth wicket between Hill and Haggett gave Devon’s bowlers something to defend.
Although Sharland (ankle), Read (foot) and Stephens (illness) were not in peak condition when Berkshire batted, Tall felt Devon still played below their best.
“Although we took three cracking catches, our fielding was not great and we gave away at least 25 runs early on,” said Tall.
“That may not seem many, but those runs allowed Berkshire to bide their time and not have to go harder earlier than they did.
“Decisions that don’t go your way can be massive in games as close as this one. We were convinced Jamie had Lloyd caught behind, which would have left them nine down. Instead, he was still there at the end.
“It was hard not to come away thinking it was a game we lost rather than one Berkshire won.”
Devon now have a three-week break from 50-over cup action, which resumes on June 2 when Oxfordshire are the opposition at Sidmouth.
Devon 196-8 (C J Haggett 75, F J Hill 32, R J Lewis 2-39, Y Lakhani 2-37, T G Sturgess 2-41), Berkshire 199-8 (R D Lewis 55, R J Lewis 31, C P Dunnett 31; J A Stephens 4-29, B H Privett 2-27). Berkshire (2pts) bt Devon (0) by 2 wkts.
