Date-stamped : 09 Sep97 - 06:08
Tuesday 9 September 1997

Minor  Counties Ch`ship Final: Devon remain cream of crop By Mike
Berry at Luton

Devon  (216-5  & 180-8 dec) bt Bedfordshire (119-9  &  251-6)  on
run-rate

DEVON  lifted  the  Minor Counties title for  a  fourth  year  in
succession in an absorbing climax to the championship  season  at
Luton.

Having   all   but   surrendered  their  first-day supremacy in a
quite awful morning session, when they lost  six  wickets  in  19
overs  for  51  runs, Devon  threw the contest wide open by chal-
lenging Bedfordshire to a sporting chase of 278 in 67 overs.

Wayne Larkins (51) and Andy Roberts  (62)   shared   an   opening
stand of 92 in  30  overs,  and Bedfordshire entered the final 20
overs on 156 for one.

Spinners Peter Roebuck and Richard  Coupe   then   tightened  the
screw by conceding  only  eight  runs off six overs, and Bedford-
shire`s attempt to make up lost ground ended when  three  wickets
fell  in  seven balls.

They   closed   on  251 for six, which gave Devon the trophy on a
faster run-rate.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)

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