Minor Counties: Devon hold on to draw with champions Cheshire

Devon held on to draw their Minor Counties Championship Western Division match with Cheshire at Sidmouth.

Home captain Josh Bess starred as he scored 102 not out in Devon's first innings and 93 in the second.

Jack Popham took 5-39 as Cheshire were bowled out for 349, before Devon made 272 all out in reply.

They then took nine wickets for 80 runs to bowl Cheshire out for 202 as Trevor Anning took 5-39, before ending the final day on 232-8 as they chased 280.

It was Devon's first draw of the season in the three-day championship, following wins over and Oxfordshire inside two days last month.

Devon almost threw the draw away as they lost a couple of late wickets in their second innings, but held on to secure second place in the Western Division, 14 points behind leaders Wiltshire, who have won all three of their games so far.

Cheshire are third in the table, 14 points behind Devon.

"Our hearts are still fluttering," said Devon chief executive Neil Gamble.

"We thought we'd done pretty well, but suddenly there was a run out just before the end and our hearts were in mouths for the last 10 minutes, but they battled along and they held out pretty well.

"We're delighted that we bowled so well and took their last nine wickets for 80 runs to set up a situation where we only had to get 280.

"We didn't have a very good start and that slowed us up, but then Josh batted absolutely brilliantly and brought us right back into the match."