Finlay Hall batting for Devon U11s against Gloucestershire at Heathcoat

SOMETHING had to give when Devon U11s met Gloucestershire at Heathcoat as both teams were unbeaten this season.

It was Devon who emerged triumphant, winning by 14 run to make it five out of five so far.

With the wicket looking a belter and unlikely to deteriorate during the game, Devon decided to bat first after winning the toss.

Openers Morgan Couch and Harry Southgate faced a testing, and sometimes hostile, opening salvo from the Gloucestershire opening bowlers.

Runs were difficult to come by until Fin Hill entered the battle at the fall of Southgate.Harry Williams - got Devon going again after the middle order slowed up

A 40-run partnership for the second wicket was built until Hill (19 from 18 balls) was superbly stumped after being deceived by a spinning delivery.

No batsman was able to dominate the Gloucestershire bowlers, as Devon's innings built slowly due to the fall of regular wickets.

At 108-7, Harry Williams took control of the situation, with the help of the tail to post a respectable total of 163.

Williams scored freely down the ground and finished on 45 not out off 60 balls - a top knock!

Devon knew Gloucestershire's strong batting line-up fancied their chances and that only a much-improved bowling and fielding display on the last game would give them any chance.

Devon started with a bang with Cross running-out one of the openers in the first over. Game on. Things went quiet after that as Landale (44 off 35) punished the inconsistent bowling to take the score to 50-2.

The introduction of Jonathan Triner and Surya Suresh changed the face of the game as they claimed five quick wickets, including Landale, to reduce the visitors to 71-6.

Gloucestershire's long batting line up continued to chip away at the required total with 15-20-run partnerships in the face of some tight bowling from Devon.

Devon rolled the dice one final time and introduced Rohan Cross and Jonathan Triner. This change proved successful, after a few nervy moments, and the last three wickets were taken.

Victory was secured when Hill caught Tarrant at cover off Triner in the 37th over. Triner finished the match with great figures of 6.1-1-15-5

The next match is against Gwent Young Cricketers this Sunday (July 23) at Shaldon Optimists CC.

Can they maintain the winning run and secure win number six?