RAIN stopped play shortly after tea on day two (Monday) of Devon’s game against Berkshire at Instow.
Berkshire were 283 for four when the elements intervened and forced both team to scamper for shelter in the pavilion.
Although it was an inconclusive end to the day’s play, it was fairly obvious who has had the best of the game so far, despite the loss of nearly five hours’ action already due to bad weather.
Devon, who resumed overnight on 177 for six, were bowled out before lunch for 222 – three runs short of a second batting bonus point.
Calum Haggett, 31 not out overnight, went on to make a top score of 61 for Devon before former Cornwall paceman Tommy Sturgess (4-48) winkled him out.
Ben Beaumont had already fallen caught at slip by then – and Sam Read was caught at fine-leg going after spinner Euan Woods (1-46), who had gone through 23 overs without taking a wicket.
Haggett and Read both departed with the score on 222, which left last man Kazi Szymanski the task of finding three runs for the bonus point earned at 225. Sturgess bagged him second ball.
Berkshire started positively – they were 105 for one after 20 overs – but were slowed-up by second spells from Szymanski, Haggett and left-arm spinner Max Shepherd in particular. One 10-over passage of play yielded just nine runs. The spell was broken when Woods biffed Shepherd for 11 runs off five balls.
The men out in Berkshire’s close-of-play total were:
{0} Rhys Lewis – caught at slip off Szymanski for 33
{0} Jonny Connell – adjudged lbw to Szymanski when on 60
{0} Charlie Dunnett – caught behind off Szymanski for 51
{0} And skipper Dan Lincoln, who was bowled by Shepherd for 20
Berkshire, who can bat for another 21 overs, will resume 63 runs ahead with Woods on 78 not out and Rhodri Lewis unbeaten on 23.
