Devon stun Leicestershire to progress to third round

Devon 156 for 9 (Dawson 42) tied with Leicestershire 156 (Procter 3-26) at Exmouth and went through by virtue of losing fewer wickets
Scorecard

The part-timers of Devon overcame Leicestershire by the narrowest margin imaginable, to join Ireland in the third round of the C&G Trophy.

In a match that came down to the very last ball, the scores were level as Devon's last pair of Andrew Procter and Aqeel Ahmed held their nerves - and their wickets - to progress by virtue of losing fewer wickets. Their hopes of victory appeared to have been dashed in the last over, when Jon Dakin dismissed their captain and top-scorer, Robert Dawson for 42. But Dakin sent down two crucial wides, and Procter and Ahmed dead-batted the last two balls to spark delirium in their dressing-room.

Leicestershire's meagre total of 156 had been due in a large part to Procter's frugal bowling earlier in the day. He returned 3 for 26 in seven overs - the best figures of the innings - although the inroads had already been made by a disciplined effort earlier in the day. Neil Hancock (2 for 29) set the tone for the day when he bowled Leicestershire's opener, Darren Robinson, for a duck, and Leicestershire's predicament would have been all the worse but for a disciplined unbeaten 33 from Paul Nixon, that rescued them from ignominy at 115 for 8.

In reply, Devon's openers made a composed start, with the runs initially coming at little more than two an over. Ottis Gibson and Claude Henderson then caused a mid-innings wobble, as Devon slipped from 50 for 1 to 75 for 6, but with Dawson clinging on, David Court came out to reignite the run-chase with a 53-ball 36. They added 53 for the seventh wicket, and ultimately it proved sufficient.