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Devon's first home three day game was at Exmouth were the ground looked in splendid condition and the weather was near perfect for all three days. Although at one time it was thought that the game might not get past the second day! Injuries continue to be a major problem as Joe Du'Gay did not get past eleven thirty-five on the first day as he reported a repeat of his knee problem. Our second injured player, Tom Simmons, who had withdrawn over the weekend helped out with drinks but Devon were effectively again down to eleven. Somerset provided us with some interesting transfer gossip and if there is a hint of truth in it unfortunately we would not be the least surprised.
The real belief that Devon could start their season with a positive performance against Somerset lasted just twenty-seven overs and an hour and three quarters as the side were seven down thirty minutes before lunch. It was decided that Jack Moor losing the toss was preferable to winning it as he chose to bat. The first hour at Exmouth is always critical but this was one our worst first sessions. Sam Read left his first ball and was bowled 0-1, Joe Du'Gay looked like he was continuing on from his hundred at Great Rissington and was back in harness with Adam Small. His knee went and so did his mobility, he was out in the tenth over caught behind - 10-2. Jack Moore faced twenty balls in a stay of thirty-six minutes but was caught after contributing one more than Du'Gay - eighteen - 22-3. There had been much discussion as to who should would open with Read and after his performance the previous week Adam Small was asked to step up. Something he most certainly did. He batted as he had the previous week and was the only batsman to demonstrate what was needed. He was his teams highest scorer and he navigated himself to the luncheon interval. Ben Beaumont contributed all of the runs of the fourth wicket partnership - a total of four as after eighteen overs Devon were 58-4. In the twenty-fourth over it had beame 66-5 as the vice captain flashed to give Baird his second catch. Lunch was still ten overs away as Devon lost two in two in the twenty-seventh over Cameron Kidd caught by the Somerset captain, Eliott Hamiliton was eg before - the bowler Toohey his two wickets of the innings - 83-7. With lunch approaching Small watched his eighth colleague to fall Ben Privett - bowled by Leonard. Lunch was taken after thirty-four overs with two under 16s at the crease - Small and Josh Farley. It was a good lunch, pasta and a gooey caramel chocolate delight. Adam Small was ninth out nine balls after the interval. He had given a proper demonstration of how to bat on the first day at Exmouth. Until he was out he had been in total control of his batting and it was a shame he did not bat through which he had deserved too. He faced one hundred and four balls batted for one hundred and forty-seven minutes and hit seven fours. Josh Farley was last man out as Devon reached one hundred and five. This was their fourth lowest longer format total and as the coach pointed out four were bowled, one LBW and three caught. He has been preaching to this group's bowlers how important our bowling plans have to be and never has there been better evidence of how effective they can be if we achieved them!! Somerset were batting at sixteen minutes past two. With Tom Simmons out Sunny Baker had choice of ends but it was his partner Ben Privett bowling from the sea end that took the first wicket. He bowled Meadows in the eighth over 17-1. Rew and Baird followed Smalls example and gave Devon further evidence of how to bat the longer format as they took their side up to the forty-third over putting on the highest partnership of the game - 131 off two hundred and thirteen balls. A example of how to accumulate without putting themselves under pressure as little pressure was exerted by the home side. Sam Read had Baird caught by Privett 148-2. Rew and Sharland added fifteen as Read took his second trapping Rew in front for his sides highest score - 70. Play ended with Somerset one hundred and thirty-one ahead with seven wickets in hand.
The importance of length was discussed on day two and one response did enlighten. Lunch was taken - baked potatoes and meringues, fruit, cream and with Somerset on three hundred and sixty having lost their eighth wicket a ball before the interval. Devon had taken the new ball after the eighty-second over and the five wickets to fall were Sharland bowled Medlock, Thomas caught by Read at first slip off a rebound from second off Baker, now bowling from the sea end, Hall well caught off the same bowler at gulley by Beaumont, Privett bowled Brooks, Leonard was bowled by Farley, Chesterman a repeat of caught Privett bowled Read and Toohey was stumped Small to give Farley a second. Somerset after one hundred and eighteen overs were two hundred and eighty -three ahead. Devon batted for sixty-three overs and had reduced the deficit to ninety-nine but had lost six wickets. It was 10-1 - Read bowled Leonard, 16-2 Hamilton caught behind, Small and Moore added seventy -four but fatigue caught up with Small who had been on the field most of the game and he was leg before for thirty-seven - with another ninety-nine balls faced, Beaumont was dropped at slip and caught at cover next ball 134-4, Medlock flirted again and with one ball and five overs left Devon were158-5. A suggestion had been made to consider protecting the remaining batsman and the proposer very much regrets floating the idea as night watchman Farley was caught pulling with twenty balls left in the day. Moore and Kidd took Devon to close of play. Tea was cancelled for the third day - an error of judgement.
On day three the remaining five batsman not only avoided an innings defeat but also set a small target that took the game past tea almost into the final hour. Moore and Kidd added sixty, with Moore passing three figures, Moore and Privett added twenty-four after Somerset took the new ball and seeing off the shine. Moore was leg before to his opposite number Hall. He was eighth out for an outstanding one hundred and twenty in two hundred and eighty one minutes, facing one hundred and ninety seven balls - a brilliant innings leading from the front. Ben Privett and Sam Woodcock were not finished as they added seventy, Woodcock and Sunny Baker took Devon up to three hundred and fifty-five with Woodcock doubling his highest country score in completing an outstanding maiden fifty. This was an exceptional session of cricket and set Somerset a target of seventy-seven with plenty of time and overs. This provided Devon with an opportunity of ending the game on a high by putting Somerset under some pressure and starting to learn how to manufacture some wickets. Somerset took nearly twenty-five overs to win the game as Devon took just one wicket taken by Josh Farley who had done well on his debut. So much has to be learnt from this performance and Stourbridge is the venue to start. Somerset desrerbed their win and outplayed us up until the final day which was very disappointing. The two Steve's - Moore and Horler looked after the ground and the Lucy Davis team was as good as ever.
