Devon u15s v Gloucestershire Heathcoat CC Wednesday 27th July 2016
The weather forecast suggested we would be okay and so it turned out. On arrival Knighthayes looked magnificent and the hospitality was outstanding- thank you Chris and Carol plus all your helpers. The pitch was dry and used and we decided to insert Gloucestershire if we won the toss which the assistant grounds man did and we did. Gloucestershire seemed happy with our decision.
Kersley and JOG opened the bowling and first ball second over James bowled Paterson. Kersley continued to apply the pressure with a maiden and next over James bowled Senior 6-2 off 4. What a start! The assistant grounds man knew his pitch! He followed it up in his next over bowling Finlay-Wilson and in his fourth over having Matt Brewer well caught low down by Sam Carpenter at slip. Gloucestershire 15-4 0ff 8 overs!! Was it Gloucestershire batting not Devon? Gloucestershire started to go about recovering the situation but the introduction of Elliott did the business when Saps took a smart slip chance to get rid of Hayward. In his next over mixing up his pace he bowled Tryfonos and in his third over he bowled Jonny Gunn. Gloucestershire 49-7 off 18 overs. All the time the fielding was outstanding and by bowling in the right areas for the pitch and helped by Gloucestershire’s batsman’s reticence to play forward and straight the pressure continued to mount. There was however then a stand of 30 before one of the most stunning catches Nick and I have seen at youth level occurred. With Deggy bowling Chakrabarty hit the ball and Kersley who was out in the long grass dived full length throwing out his left hand in the direction of the ball, which somehow ended up in his hand and he clung onto it as he hit the deck hard. It was amazing and even the Gloucestershire lads in the nearby nets applauded the piece of individual brilliance! JOG then came back on to get his five for which he duly did on his own pitch, Carps taking another excellent slip catch and Kersley also helped by Carps finished the Gloucestershire innings off 98 all out in the 34rd over. It had been an outstanding bowling effort accompanied by excellent fielding and catching display.
It was too early for the feast so Devon had to go out to bat! It was agreed we would have 15 overs then the feast. Play straight get forward it is two runs an over so don’t panic if we have a few maidens and if we lose wickets we know we bat deep. 0-1 became 3-2 and I was then off walking around the field! Abraham and Saps now batting. Saps hit his first ball for 4 and his third and fourth and for some reason he decided it was his day, he was dropped a number of times, but brilliantly supported by AB who play an unruffled support innings Saps got stuck into the Gloucestershire bowling and quickly took the match away winning the match in the 17th over! There were a number of scary moments on the way, when he hit the ball in the air and/ or was dropped but it was a fantastic powerful knock - one notable on drive. Whether it was a train he had to catch or the thought of the feast by 3.00PM,it was all over and an extended lunch was had; and what an amazing lunch; just as well we did not have to play any further cricket! Thank you Carol, Chris et al for all you did. It was a special day at you home club. Thank you the umpires. Thank you the scorers and thank you Heathcoat for hosting us. Devon won by 8 wickets.
So we dropped into Thorverton on the way home, to see the grounds man, as on a high we play, weather permitting Oxfordshire the next day!
Devon u15s v Oxfordshire Thorverton CC Thursday 28th July 2016
After a late evening it is another early start, tired, it’s off to Thorverton with it already raining in Plymouth! The forecast suggests light rain clearing around 12.00 noon, then a good day, so we are going to play.
On arrival the outfield is emerald green and the pitch has a green tinge but it looks good. We will insert Oxfordshire if we win the toss but we lose the toss. No worries lets get on with it.
The James' open and there is carry and bounce one end. We miss out on a couple of full bungers but nevertheless we are on 21 after 6 overs when Deggy nibbles at one and is caught behind. Enter AB with Dobs. The score ticks along but perhaps we get a little bogged down when AB calls James for a quick single, when he hits it straight to point and Dobs is run out. Sorry! Disappointing but these things do happen and we must deal with it. Saps joins AB to continue their partnership of the previous day and that is exactly what they do. They go about it in a slightly quieter way, both playing some super shots; Saps budging the occasion 4 and AB effortlessly caressing boundaries. Both achieve their well deserved 50s and with the score on 158 in the 35th over, a partnership of 110, AB is strangled down the leg side for 55. Byron promoted, to up the run rate, why do we do it; it never works, joins Saps who immediately gives deep square catching practice and unlike the day before he is well held! Two wickets in two overs – I feel a walk around the boundary coming on just to get away from the seething coach! 162-4 which becomes 172-5 when Byron is bowled behind his legs sweeping; which becomes 186-6 when Tayls chips to mid wicket which becomes 195-7 when Carps is LBW. We have a little stand, well done Jonty and Els but Jonty tees of and is caught and Els is then out with the score on 238. JOG and Kers see us through the 50 overs 241-9, our highest 50 over score? - but what should it have been lads? 280-300?? Is that the next step? Anyway we have the score on the board and we have not lost any time to the weather which has as predicted now improved. Tea - then we get the other half done and dusted!
After another great feast, thank you ladies, Kers and JOG open as usual. The pitch still with some carry and the beginnings of turn has a little in it if you get it in the right areas so we need to be patient and if we perform as we did the day before then all being well we should win but..
Taylor and Webb open and whilst we bowl okay the little half chances and beating the bat do not happen. Be patient Mearsy! Then in the 7th over, after perhaps he was unlucky the over before, Kers has Taylor caught behind by Taylor. 27-1. Next over JOG bowls Webb and he then takes wickets in his next two overs, bowled and LBW. Oxfordshire 34-4 in the 12th over. Great stuff – Nick says game over and we wants to get back early for a game of FIFA Manager!! Cautiously Oxfordshire move onto 39 in the 17th over when Els gets an edge off a slow delivery and Saps takes another good slip chance.. we have taken a few! Drinks and then Oxfordshire have a partnership of 19 when Deggy through dot balls entices a caught and bowled - in your pocket Deggy! Next over it becomes 58-7 when Woody helped by Jonty’s catch removes Price. Woody who is bowling well, getting it to rip, then has Mase smartly stumped by Tayls and Carps has Chapman LBW. 84-9. Woody finishes it off with Dobs taking another slip catch Oxfordshire 100 all out and Devon winning by 141 runs. Stay grounded, keep working hard and believe!
Two excellent days cricket, 8 points and we move onto our friendly two day match against Yorkshire at Exmouth followed by Somerset on Wednesday in the ECB CC.
Thank you to Thorverton CC for another excellent pitch. Thank you the umpires and scorers and Derek. Thank you all the parents, guardian and relatives etc for your support and once more the magnificent spread. Thank you everyone. Home early well we would have been but for the hold up at Drumbridges – Nick is so impatient! See you Monday.
