By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE at the MAER GROUND
DEVON went down by 72 runs to Somerset at Exmouth in the annual ‘Showcase’ game between the two counties.
The ECB initiative to strengthen ties between First-Class counties and their National Counties neighbours, now in its third year, attracted a four-figure crowd to the Maer Ground.
Devon were competitive for long spells in it – dismissing a mixed Somerset side for 204 with six overs to go showed that – but lost their way on the chase.
Skipper James Horler made a battling 48 for Devon, but had too little in the way of worthwhile batting support after Sam Elstone was out for 19.
Devon’s final five wickets tumbled for just 29 runs as they slid from 105 for five – Horler was still in then – to 132 all out.
Horler felt the result represented an opportunity missed.
“It was a game we could and should have won as 205 was gettable,” said Horler.
“We played well for 60 per cent of the game, but needed some 20s or 30s in the middle order and just didn’t get them.”
Somerset, who included five players with First-Class experience this season, were grateful to the bottom half of their order for getting as far as they did.
George Thomas (26), Luke Goldsworthy (30) and skipper Sean Dickson were the principal participants towards a running total of 86 for five in the 18th over.
Dickson batted on to make 39 before he was seventh out on 147. Archie Vaughan (20), Kasey Aldridge (25) and James Rew (30), who was kept in reserve down the order, inflated the contribution for the last three wickets.
Seamers Charlie Ward (1-36), Kazi Szymanski and Ethan Guest (0-12), as well as spinner Will Christophers (2-38), operated around four an over or below for Devon. Ben Privett took two wickets in three balls at the end to conclude the Somerset innings.
Left-arm spinner Max Shepherd bowled better than his two-for-54 synopsis implied. Rew and Dickson bashed 23 off him in two overs, which skewed his figures.
Devon could not have wished for a worse start to their reply: Privett bowled first ball by Ned Leonard from a delivery that jagged back on him.
Horler and Elstone (19) recuperated during a stand of 50 that took Devon to the 60 per cent point the captain referred to.
Stumpings are seldom pretty and Elstone’s clumsy demise to Goldsworthy (2-24) was the start of Devon’s decline as 50 for one became 81 for five.
There remained a glimmer of hope while Sam Read (12) was at the other end from Horler, but it did not last long.
Christophers was not out 16 at the non-strikers’ end when Andy Umeed (3-16) claimed two wickets in two balls to conclude the match. There were two wickets each for Josh and George Thomas, whose superb one-handed reaction catch to dismiss Ben Beaumont for a nine-ball duck was among the game highlights.
Dave Tall, Devon’s director of cricket, said the result may have been ‘disappointing’ but there was much to praise as well.
“I thought we bowled and fielded extremely well to get Somerset all-out for 204, which I would have been the first to accept if offered that before we tossed-up, said Tall.
“Our bowlers soon worked out the right length to bowl and Max Shepherd soon figured out the pace needed as well.
“Anyone watching would have been proud of Devon’s performance in the field. We acquitted ourselves well.”
Tall said there were lessons to be learned for the batters as the target was not out of reach at the start of the chase.
“I said during the break if we batted out our overs we should be able to win the game,” said Tall.
“Had we been a little less gung-ho, and a little more ‘savvy’, we may well have managed it.
“Ben Privett was unlucky – a tough ball first up – and Ben Beaumont was out to a great catch.
“One or two of the guys might just wish to reflect on their shot selection as there were a few soft dismissals too.”
Devon return to three-day action on Sunday when they travel to Truro to start a three-day game against Cornwall.
