DEVON'S U12 squad opened their season with a win over Wiltshire at Torquay.
Harry Passenger lost the toss and his side were asked to field first on what looked like a good track to bat on.
Some disciplined bowling initially from opening pair Jack Whittaker and Harry Pryce enabled Devon to control the run rate. The Wiltshire openers managed to add 35 for the first wicket in what would prove to be the only partnership of any significance.
A superb pick up and throw from Cameron Ford in the deep at backward square effected a run-out and from there on wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
Spinners Jacob Kopparambil and debutant Teddy Haffenden shared three wickets between them while seamers Alec Holifield, Matt Jeacock and Ed Butler, together with skipper Passenger’s off breaks, ensured the run rate never got much above three an over.
Ed Butler changed ends, and bowling with good pace, removed the dangerous Howgrave-Graham, knocking over middle stump before claiming a second wicket also bowled as the Wiltshire innings stuttered to 128-8 from the allotted 40 overs.
Ed Butler 2-13 and Jacob Kopparambil were the pick of the bowlers with Noah Carlisle picking up two good catches at the wicket, the second from a high top-edge off the bowling of Harry Pryce where he called early and claimed the catch comfortably.
The reply was clinical with openers Jake Pascoe and Cameron Ford sharing an unbroken partnership to take Devon to victory in the 26th over.
Pascoe (61) went on to make his half-century and he was particularly severe on any error in line as he punished the Wiltshire bowlers with eight boundaries, backward of square being a very productive area for him.
His partner Ford (38) never looked in any trouble and the highlight of the partnership was their excellent running between the wickets.
Wales away at Newport in the next game is likely to be a sterner challenge
