Devon under-14s review of the season | Five games played | Day one win over Dorset the highlight

Devon under-14s in 2020. Back (left to right): Jim Parker, Ben Kay, Julian Hayter, Rohan Cross, George Tapley, Harry Arden, Jon Triner; front: Will Popham, Fin Hill, Harry Southgate (capt), Morgan Couch (wkt), Harry Mount, Surya Suresh

DEVON under-14s finally got some games in after a frustrating summer that saw the annual ESCA festival in Taunton and all ECB Championship games cancelled due to the pandemic.

Devon started a four-game 'campaign' with a convincing nine-wicket win over Dorset at Seaton CC.

Exeter pair Fin Hill (3-28) and Harry Williams (2-7) did most of the damage with the ball as Dorset were all out for 157.

Hill grabbed what would have been the man-of-the-match award with an undefeated 71 in the Devon run chase. After opener Julyan Hayter (Bideford) was forced to retire through injury, Hill and Chagford’s Harry Mount (53no) put on 138 for the second wicket, steering Devon to victory in the 21st over.

Wayward bowling and lack-lustre fielding didn't help the cause as Devon went down by two wickets in their next game against Gloucester at Ipplepen CC.

Skipper Harry Southgate of SP&T (36) top scored in Devon's total of 181, with Mount (31) and Plympton’s Sureya Suresh (21) also contributing.

Ipplepen opening bowler George Tapley (3-19) had Gloucestershire on the back foot early on and there were also wickets for Rohan Cross (2-23) and Mount (2-16). Devon battled to the end but the visitors ran out winners in the 38th over with eight wickets down.

Devon played two T20 games against Somerset in Taunton and were defeated in both.

The first encounter turned out to be a close-run affair. Tapley (2-13) was Devon's most successful bowler as Somerset finished on 124-4 after their 20 overs. Southgate led the run chase with 49 but Devon eventually finished just four runs short.

Hill (40no) and Shaldon’s Morgan Couch (20) helped Devon to 136-4 batting first in the second game. But Somerset passed the tally with the loss of just five wickets.Fin Hill operating under the watchful eye of umpire Steve Porter

Devon finished the 'mini' campaign with victory over Cornwall at Hayle CC.

Cornwall opted to bat first on a wet and drying wicket and probably wished they hadn't as they were skittled out for just 76. Cross (3-10) and Suresh (2-0) were the main wicket takers as Devon's performance with the ball and in the field was a huge improvement on previous games. There was a little wobble in the run chase but Southgate (17no) was there at the end as Devon won in the 25th over with five wickets down.

Southgate – 153 runs, average 38.25 – topped the batting averages. Mount and Hill both averaged in the 30s.

Tapley – seven wickets at 10.29 each – headed the bowling aggregates. Cross (5@6.60) led the averages from Tapley and Southgate (10.33).

Season’s Scoreboard

Dorset 157 (F Hill 3-28, H Williams 2-7); Devon 158-1 (F Hill 71no, H Mount 53no). Devon bt Dorset by nine wickets

Devon 181 (H Southgate 36, H Mount 31, S Suresh 21); Gloucester 182-8 (G Tapley 3-19, R Cross 2-23, H Mount 2-16). Gloucester bt Devon by two wickets

Somerset 124-4 (G Tapley 2-13); Devon 120-5 (H Southgate 49). Somerset bt Devon by four runs.

Devon 136-4 (M Couch 20, F Hill 40no); Somerset 140-5. Somerset bt Devon by five wickets

Cornwall 76 (R Cross 3-10, S Suresh 2-0); Devon 79-4 (H Southgate 17no). Devon bt Cornwall by six wickets.

Otty Yip bowling at pace for Devon under-14s against Gloucestershire