On a perfect's summer day the magnificent Heathcoat Cricket Club produced another very special day of County Youth Age Group Cricket - the seventeen's first one day tie. In 2011 Craig Eaves side tied with Hampshire on first innings (two day game) on the then Rose Bowl's Nursery ground as the current Bideford captain, Paul Heard, was run out trying to take his side into first innings points territory. That had been a very tense, brave, rearguard action but this time is was far more exciting! The game against Worcestershire had always been high of Devon's discussion agenda as availability for this county match was as low as practical to field a competitive side. With weekend revision, in some cases, now appearing to concentrate on the Sunday the end product produced by this side was exceptional. With two hand injuries, one later diagnosed as dislocated, sustained the previous day at the Fortfield Devon resources were even further reduced. Equally Worcestershire's similar problems created a very entertaining game of cricket with both sides picking up two important points and the Devon management now fully understanding individuals priorities. Under 16 captain, Jack Moore, took on the armband ably assisted by the sides steadfast, James Onley-Gregson. Devon, having taking into account last week's batting exploits, decided to bat. Ed Middleton opened with Byron Knowles whose thumb was later to be found dislocated the pair took Devon up to within one run of a fifty partnership and twelve short of last week's total. It was not chanceless but this partnership, the innings highest, had been essential as it gave the side a vital base. Against Somerset discussions had centred on contributions being made by everyone and an overview of this game would tell you that in their own way everyone made an important contribution to the end product. This was particularly evident in the sides last ten overs in the field. Further confirming that a team is more than the sum of its parts. The previous week Jamie Khan had reminded the side of the importance of partnerships, this week every partnership yielded important runs with the lowest being twenty-two. If lessons can be learnt so quickly there would be no need for revision. This was a crucial ingredient in the side reaching 256-6, the joint seventh highest one day under 17 score and considering three of those scores were in sixty-over games this was the fourth highest fifty over total - simply outstanding. It is important for the remainder of the summer all our partnerships are meaningful and can range from ten or exceed the current record of three hundred and three. Ben Sapiecha and Middleton added forty-one off fifty-two balls with Middleton deservedly reaching his maiden county fifty and it was then the annoying fifty and out as he clipped to mid wicket. In fairness the Exeter batsman had taken the initiative away from the visitors with an excellent counter attacking performance. He had batted for sixty-five minutes, faced seventy balls hitting six fours and a six. Another theme of the day was the various attributes needed by individuals at county age group cricket to create collective success. If this can be absorbed by the team as a whole we could have a decent season. Devon were now 90-2 in the twentieth. Whatever apprehension there had been of a repeat of the previous batting performance was now subsiding but it was another unnecessary run out that took out a key wicket. The increasingly maturing Ben Sapiecha was looking a number three and yet again a self inflicted wound set Devon back. Devon were now at the half way stage of their innings. Sapiacha had scored twenty-two which was also the sum of his partnership with Jack Moore. Drinks followed and Moore and a disappointed James Onley-Gregson, his season's average had dropped the previous day below fifty, put on forty-six in forty minutes. Devon were now on one hundred and fifty-eight when in the thirty-eighth over Moore was caught for a reassuring twenty-seven. He had looked to be returning to his best. Thoughts were surreptitiously being shared to a final total, could we now go at sixes, sevens or more. There is a certain air of serenity about Luke Medlock who now joined Onley-Gregson. Devon were now thirteen balls away from their final ten overs. The pairing took Devon into the final ten scoring thirty-two off forty balls in twenty-three minutes. The Paignton all-rounder reached the unlucky thirteen when he was caught with Devon now ten short of two hundred but the platform was now solid and secure. All Devon now needed was an innings from Jos Buttler. What they got was an innings from Louis Morison with all the ingredients of a knock from Buttler. In what is likely to be his penultimate innings in royal, black and gold before the red and white stripes take over Morison demonstrated why he is so highly rated and yet has also infuriated. His contribution on the 10th June 2018 was up amongst the VERY best by any Devon batsman as he scored an unbeaten forty-five off twenty balls and in the same number of minutes at the crease. He hit three fours and three sixes in an innings of the highest quality to finish the Devon innings. In the company of James Onley- Gregson, who was no slouch, and Elliott Adams Devon scored at over eleven and a half an over and that included only three off the final over. For the others the home side had scored at thirteen and a half! A figure not included in the earlier discussions. Morison did not target the shortest boundary but the longest. He lost Onley-Gregson, unselfish as ever, in the forty-seventh over in another essential innings that did not improve his own season's average as he fell two short of fifty. He had added twenty-six off seventeen with Morison. Apart from the final over it was simply carnage as thirty-seven were scored off the forty-eighth and forty-ninth overs. Time for an exceptional lasagne and delicious puddings including the first strawberries of the summer and real relief as Devon had set a competitive total
Worcestershire needed to score at virtually fives as Devon did not get off to the best start but by the third over Worcestershire were up to the required rate and as their worm clearly shows that for the majority of their innings they were slightly ahead of the required rate. Devon took two wickets in the fourteenth over off successive balls both caught Woodcock bowled Moore as two exceptional catches gave the home side some encouragement as the Worcestershire openers had put on sixty-nine. These runs were scored off ninety-two balls in eight minutes under the hour. As in the Devon innings the opening partnership was the highest of the innings. Devon now started to grasp greater control and apart from a hiccup in the forty-seventh over the game appeared to be going down to the wire. At twenty-five overs the Midlanders were 112-2 (Devon 112-3). Medlock took his first wicket in the twenty-eight with the standing up Morison catching the oppositions captain for sixty-two, the games highest individual score. The third wicket had added fifty-six and the fourth put on sixty-two. A smart piece of fielding by Onley-Gregson ran out Meredith in the fortieth over - Worcestershire now were way ahead of the Devon innings - 187-4 (Devon 167-4) but had the visitors a Morison. Three overs later the captain took his third wicket with Onley-Gresgon taking the catch - comparison Devon 182-4 Worcestershire 205-5 - nails were being bitten. On double Nelson Moore took his fourth wicket having Morison's opposite number caught behind. At the end of forty-sixth over Worcestershire needed thirty-one off twenty-four. The forty-seventh went for twelve after an impetuous throw got the wrong batsman on strike. A run a ball was now required over the remaining three overs. Cole Harford ran out Wheldon 240-7 with the visitors still ahead of Devon's run rate. A third run out increased the pressure as a neat direct underarm flick from Adams left Worcestershire twelve short with two wickets in hand and twelve balls left. Nine were needed off the final over to be bowled by Medlock. This would be a big ask for any bowler and it would be interesting to see how the cool Medlock responded. First ball straight driven four, five of five, second ball Greening caught and bowled Medlock off a skyer -1 all. Second and third balls dots - 3-1. Discussion on the boundary was about our excellent keeper who by standing up had put the batsman under pressure as the last two balls had cleanly thumped into his gloves with two excellent takes - should Morison now stand back. Marshall now nicked off - scores level. Last ball the batsman charged Medlock, Morison took the ball neatly removed the bails (right decision) and the game was tied. Great credit to the young bowler and keeper. This had been an outstanding but not blemish free performance. With just eleven fit fielders, perhaps in reality ten Devon struck to their task but missed more chances than in the previous game. The coaches lesson to be learnt would be right fielder right place. No bowler went for under three but there was a shortish boundary. Devon bowled twenty-two wides to Worcestershire eighteen. Luke Medlock took 3-38 off nine and Moore 4-51 off ten. Morison's run rate of 225 is going to be hard pressed to be beaten in any lengthy stay at the crease this summer and the overall performance will remain long in the memory. Selection now goes in the opposite direction as we have eighteen players competing for twelve places but the final selection for Hampshire will disappoint some but will take into account a number of factors. Fortunately the under sixteen programme is nearly upon us and some of those who miss out will get a game against either Gloucestershire or Haberdashers, With the under 16 captain coming up with some new names to be thrown into the hat scouting will widen over the next two weekends, Jack Moore and James Onley-Gregon did well and were mainly on top of a continually changing and often difficult situation.
Another major plus was despite all his recent media appearances on Spotlight, Points West, Radio Bristol et alia Sandy Allen was still his normal modest but grumpy self but today's performance did go some way to lightning his mood. The recent coverage of our County Age Group Cricket only reinforces, despite what has been written elsewhere, the importance of this platform and playing competitive age group cricket for Devon and how it enables individuals to progress in the game. In our only visit of the summer to Knighthayes it was good to catch up with some old faces but with a 500 plus track, exceptional catering, bright sunshine it will be very difficult to beat this outstanding venue in 2018 but hopefully others will try. Our thanks to the magnificent Carol Onley-Gregson and her team who were immense. The third umpire also played his part behind the scenes and Peter Woodman hardly stopped all day- Thank you to everyone involved.
