DEVON’S fight for survival in NCA Western Division One continues after their basement clash with Cheshire ended in a draw.
Devon, set 207 to win in at least 60 overs on the third and final day at Sidmouth, were 121 for four when bad light stopped play 85 minutes early. A subsequent shower ruled out any chance of going back out and the captains shook hands on a draw.
Although the game failed to go the full distance, Devon did enough to maintain their hopes of avoiding relegation from NCA Western Division One.
Devon go to Banbury to play Oxfordshire over three days from Sunday still bottom of the table, but just two points behind Cheshire, the team they have to overtake to stay up.
Devon need three more points against Oxfordshire from the 24 available than Cheshire take off Cornwall at Chester CC to ensure their survival.
Cheshire, all-out for 287 on day one with three wickets each for Matt Skeemer (3-52) and Kazi Szymanski (3-66), had Devon wobbling at 120 for four in reply with Ben Beaumont (7no) and Calum Haggett (20no) the not-out batters. Opener Sam Elstone had been and gone for 67 by then.
Beaumont, who lost his place in the side in the previous round of fixtures after a run of low scores for club and county, was drafted back in at short notice after Ben Privett dropped out with back trouble.
Beaumont went on to make 154 – his first three-day ton for the county – and Haggett reached 115 during a partnership of 261 for the fifth wicket towards a total of 398 all out.
Devon’s batting has looked brittle at times this season: staying around long enough to make scores the issue. Beaumont and Haggett not only got Devon off the hook from 120 for four, they steered them towards a 111-run lead.
Devon bowled-out Cheshire a second time for 317 – Sam Read (4-91), Kazi Szymanski (3-68) and Skeemer (2-52) doing most of the work – which left a target of 207 to win in around 60 overs. Szymanksi finished with impressive match figures of six for 134.
Devon ran into trouble against Cheshire spinner Dan Wilson, who reduced them to 32 for four all on his own, but Haggett (34) and Lawrence Walker (51) steered them to 121 without further mishap before bad light then rain caused the game to be abandoned.
James Horler, the Devon skipper, said after poor performances and heavy defeats by Berkshire and Cornwall in the first two rounds, this was more representative of what Devon are capable of.
“Considering the injury problems we had to contend with during this game (Haggett foot, Skeemer (shoulder), we got the best out of the resources we had to get into a good position,” said Horler.
“Cheshire probably felt they were two wickets away from rolling us over, but we still had batting to come in Beaumont, Read and Skeemer who could have won it for us.
“Weather was a factor against Berkshire – we were 15 minutes away from a draw – and it affected the first day against Cornwall in a big way.
“It was immensely frustrating to play so well for so long – we dominated more sessions than Cheshire – to have problems with the weather again when we were in such a good position.”
Horler’s highlights included the stand of 261 between Beaumont and Haggett, together with Elstone’s maiden half-century for the team.
“It was great to see Ben put the struggles he has had behind him and get some runs.
“Calum showed his class – and did it again when we batted second time.
‘Sam got a ‘pair’ on his debut against Cornwall, but came back from that well with his first 50 for Devon.”
Haggett, Privett and Skeemer are all under treatment from physios and will undergo fitness tests before the side to face Oxfordshire is finalised.
