NCCA Counties

Devon CCC v Wiltshire CCC    NCCA T20 sponsored by 'DOJO'

North Devon CC, Instow Sunday 24th May 2026 at 2:30pm

Game 2 of 2

The lunch interval was followed by another equally absorbing game.  Devon won the toss and decided to bat first.  This time around  Wiltshire took early wickets and Devon were 30 for 3 after the powerplay.  However, James Matravers, 75 not out, held the innings together and by the end they had reached 154 for 6.  Sam Read gave most support with 38 until he was caught on the boundary by Jack Mynott from a Sam Freestone delivery.  There were two wickets for Stan Brown plus a wicket apiece for Archie Pascoe, Sam Freestone, Archie Fairfax-Ross and Alfie Johnson.

In their reply Wiltshire, began strongly and had 50 on the board in just 4.1 overs.  Wadworth Man of the Day Tom Cheater carried on where he left off in the first match and hit a commanding 55 from just 23 balls. A couple of wickets fell cheaply and Wiltshire had to work hard to maintain the necessary strike rate.

Ed Young (10), Cyrus Shafi (17) and Will Naish (17) all helped Wiltshire towards their total.  Will, in particular pushed the score from 88 for 5 to 144 for 6 alongside Stan Brown  who hit a vital 42 not out and was there at the finish alongside Alfie Johnson with nine needed from the final over. 

Stan Brown relieved some of the pressure with a four from the first ball of the over which was spilled by a fielder on the boundary which on another day might have been a six … or out! Stan took a single from the next ball meaning that four runs were required from the last four deliveries.  Alfie Johnson swung the bat and missed the next two deliveries but he did connect with the penultimate ball of the over and watched the ball fly back over the bowler’s head for a magnificent straight six and victory for Wiltshire thus allowing the heart rate of their fans to stabilise!

At the end of the day honours were even with one victory each to begin their respective T20 campaigns.

Lessons will be learnt by both sides as they strive for success in their remaining matches.

Next up for Wiltshire is another double header of T20 matches against Cornwall CCC at Westbury and District CC on Sunday 31st  of May.

Report by Roy Honeybone