Devon batting a sun-drenched Paignton CC

Matchday 6 finally brought home comforts for the Boys as they took on the Welsh Regional side of Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan at Paignton CC.

This match was about putting in a solid team performance to rebuild confidence and show what we are really about!!    

The pitch looked decent and with a quick outfield the loss of the toss by Henry Squire really didn't matter. Now was the time to put the recent batting woes behind us and go BIG.

Devon's innings started off in familiar fashion with one of the openers dismissed in the first over to leave us 5-1, but that was as good as it got for the visitors for a while. The U9 double act of Rory Oram-Evenett and Tobias Alsop put on 88 for the 2nd wicket partnership in 18 overs with a good mixture of strike rotation and dispatching of the bad ball to the boundary. Alsop (12) fell with the score at 93 and Oram-Evenett (74 - 11 x 4s) at 97. A further wicket fell at 104 in the 22nd over and the innings was in the balance.

Step up Matthew Whalley (30 - 5 x 4s), James Talbot (48 no - 9 x 4s)) and Jack Martin (12 no) who kept the scoreboard ticking over with a mix of power hitting, valuable partnerships (66 for the 5th wkt and 39 for the 6th wkt) and quick singles to post a excellent score 209-5 off 35 overs. A much improved batting display and the signs looked good for claiming a second victory of the season.

Devon's opening bowling pair of Freddie Wolfgang and Jules Hughes kept the reply in check and at the end of their 4 over spells they had reduced Cardiff & VoG to 14-2. Devon continued to rotate bowlers due to the hot conditions, but the control of the scoreboard, and the game, was maintained throughout the remaining overs. 

Standout bowlers for Devon were Wolfgang (6-2-5-2) and Tom Hellewell (5-2-17-2). Special mention to Jack Martin for his superb catch, run out and brave boundary fielding. The Cardiff innings closed with them on 115-7 off 35 overs to give Devon victory by 94 runs.

This victory showed to the players what can be achieved with a improvement in batting application, a more focused bowling approach and committed fielding. 

Devon's Man of the Match was Rory Oram-Evenett for his excellent 74. For a player so young he showed great shot selection and the desire to go big when you have the chance. For a player of his age, this was highly impressive.

 

Next up for the Boys is Game 2 of the 'Jam and Cream Derby' against Cornwall at Bideford CC on Sunday 22nd July. With Devon being 1-0 down it's time to draw the series level!!