At Seaton against Somerset it was back to Under 17 normal service as the side put on a performance of real character and determination. It was one that they should have put on against Worcestershire two weeks earlier but they proved to be quick learners and the side gelled and looked a very good unit in all departments. Considering the rain that had fallen the previous week and indeed on the match day (there was also a twenty minute break in the first innings) it was the hard work of the home sides outstanding ground team of House and Anderton that ensured the game started on time and went the full day. Devon's warm up ticked all the boxes but Somerset called correctly and inserted Devon. What followed was a really cohesive performance by the twelve players who all in their own individual ways made important contributions with the sum of the whole exceeding the sum of Devons parts. The openers Cameron Kidd and Sam Read batted for sixty-eight minutes and were just six runs short of the perfect start as they added ninety-four off one hundred and six balls. They deserved the first hundred partnership of the summer but Kidd is a batter that lives by the sword and he was Max Toohey's first victim ten runs short of a fifty. He will hopefully bat on and post higher scores as the season progresses but the East Devon openers had set their side up superbly. The second wicket pairing took Devon to one run short of three figures as the highest run scorer in the Devon League failed to complete one of the annual twenty key points as Sam Read was Toohey's second victim for thirty-six, It did get worse as another experienced batsman, now in his preferred position, scored just nine to complete Max Toohey wicket taking contribution. It was the first add on two of the season and Devon were now on one hundred and nineteen but three down having utilised twenty-six overs. The visitors had been generous in giving nineteen runs in wides. It now needed a decent partnership and Jack Moore had started what was to be the sides critical innings. He was joined by Ben Beaumont who was also in a rich vein of form. They took the score to one hundred and sixty-five. Their partnership was worth forty-six and they were both starting to get their side back on top. Ben Beaumont was out on the fourth legal ball of the thirty-seventh over when he tried another big shot and was caught. As the coach delicately tried to express the over had already gone for nine and it might have been wiser to work an additional couple of singles rather than going for the road. The pair had batted really well together and Beaumonts twenty-one out the partnership of forty-six had started the recovery. The leadership team were now together and as they did when they later bowled as a pair they showed why their partnership works so well on and off the field. They took Devon past the two hundred when Luke Medlock was caught for a twenty-four ball twenty-two. Ben Privett was caught first ball and will be subject to the add on two, minimum partnership of ten conversation when he next meets up with the group. It was a really careless dismissal but he did go on to later make up for it. Fortunately Will Scott Munden worked in partnership with his captain and the sides fourth important partnership took Devon up to a defendable two hundred and fifty one. Moore had shown his continuing maturity and why he has taken to the Premier like the proverbial duck as he demonstrated with all his partners how batting partnerships work - they help each other by talking. The final pairing added an unbeaten forty-seven off thirty-seven which Sandy Allen will hopefully take as a tick both hit big sixes, ran well and took Devon to a place that their openers had provided the platform. Moore finished on sixty-three and Scott-Munden nineteen. Extras where Devon's second highest scorer with forty-one. Sybil Anderton was at her best with some more excellent deserts and Devon now needed to be in the field.

Fortunately they prepared well and as a component Devon did most things really well. Ben Privett gave his side the perfect start having Meadows caught at square leg with the first ball of his first over and bowling the visitors captain with his fifth. There had been a strong breeze all day and both of Devon's opening bowlers wanted the Town End so Privett agreed to bowl into the fairly strong wind. Two minutes past three Somerset were one for two a remarkable start by any side. Jamie Baird who has been a thorn in Devons side for a couple of years is now at the crease with the equally impressive Charlie Sharland and the pair added forty-one off sixty-five balls. Sonny Baker was now on at his favoured end and with his fourth ball trapped Baird in front, another vital breakthrough. Sharland and Thomas added twenty-seven in twenty-four balls with Sharland pulling well in front of square. Luke Medlock was replaced by Will Scott-Munden for his first ball in royal, gold and black for a few years and in the twentieth over had Thomas well held by Tom Simmons on the rope. He also took two in two both caught but neither applied, the first a no ball, the second a free hit - possible a first at this level!  All of Devons bowlers should have been pleased with their performances. They were well supported in the field with Cameron Kidd and Sam Woodcock more than proving their worth. The fifth wicket put on Somerset's highest partnership of the day - fifty off seventy balls but Devon were not making it easy for them. The excellent 2019 leadership team of Jack Moore and Luke Medlock are not the most loquacious believing in the old adage that actions speak louder than words but they may well be one of the best. As they had demonstrated whilst batting they now shone bowling in tandem. As a pair they took Devon from the twenty-sixth over to the thirty-second and with the help of the other ten put on the squeeze. In the thirty-second over Moore trapped Leonard in front. Somerset were now 119-5. Nine balls later is was 122-6 as Sonny Baker, now back with the wind behind him, had Brookes caught by Sam Read. Four balls later the captain bowled Reed. The last three wickets added another thirty-four runs which was Sandy Allens only disappointment in an otherwise good day at the office. In his sixth and final over Moore completed his Man of the Match contribution by bowling the outstanding Sharland for a top score of seventy-one. Sam Woodcock took two for seven off thirteen balls and Sam Read bowled a maiden. A win by ninety-four runs was a decent result after a couple of lean years at seventeen's against Somerset.

We are always made most welcome at Seaton and looked after royally and it is again a pleasure to play at Court Lane where it started to drizzle as we left. Now for the long trip to Hampshire after a league programme where the home side will need a win to advance to the semi-finals.

Scorecard