Day 3: Devon v Cheshire: Rain ruins run chase in Sidmouth draw

Cheshire 287 & 317, Devon 398 & 121-4. Match drawn. Devon 12 points, Cheshire 11 points

Scorecard & video highlights   Match stream Conrad Sutcliffe Devon CCC match report Western Division 1 Table

In the end the rain robbed Devon and Cheshire of a potential close finish and the opportunity to edge ahead in the fight for survival in Western Division 1.

The SIdmouth sea fret rolled in after the players had left the field for bad light just after 5pm, and 30 minutes later the game was abandoned as a draw.

The match had swung to and fro for three days and deserved a better finale with Devon chasing 207 to win.

Cheshire had started the day on 187-3 and with Sam Perry and Rob Sehmi looking in little danger, the visitors set about building a comprehensive lead.

However, one again, a madcap half hour saw Perry (74), Sehmi (53), Harry Dearden and Kevin Carroll lose their wickets as they looked to accelerate the scoring.

It took late order runs from  Nick Anderson (52) and Dan Wilson (23) to then set what felt a challenging 207 to win on a turning pitch. Sam Read headed the Devon bowling honours with 4-91.

And with Wilson's slow left arm then taking four wickets at the start of the Devon reply, 34-4 had the hosts reeling.

Cheshire tails were up but once again the game swung . Lawrence Walker (51) and Carl Haggett (34) dug deep, steadied the ship and eased their way to a fine 87 run partnership as the weather closed in.

With  86 still needed and Cheshire requiring six wickets, it was a damp sqib ending to a game that deserved so much more and had so many twists and fine individual performances - the latest seeing Wilson emerge with 4-32 to go with his 5-92 first innings haul and runs in both innnings.

Ultimately the draw left Cheshire two points ahead of Devon in the table meaning matching Devon's points haul in their final game with Oxfordshire at the weekend - Cheshire face Cornwall - will ensure Division 1 survival.

Devon 12 points, Cheshire 11 points