In a rain affected game, Devon U12's lost to Somerset at Taunton School. Archie won the toss (yet again) for Devon and on a damp afternoon with intermittent showers and a pitch that looked as though it might improve as the sun came out elected to field first. The best bowling and fielding display so far of the summer then followed as the visitors were restricted to 146 off their allotted 40 overs. Archie Farkins and Rory Medlock both bowled economically to achieve 8 overs for only 20 runs and Rory picked up the wicket of the Somerset opener for 42 when the runs were just starting to flow. A sign of how tight the fielding and bowling was is the fact that although Somerset were only six wickets down after 40 overs, two of the wickets were run outs (care of Tom Hatton and James Hayter). Jasper Presswell bowled seam up to return the excellent figuers of 7 overs 1 maiden, 1 for 17 and Tom Hatton chipped in again with 8 overs 2 maidens, 1 for 26.
The mood at the interval was optimistic as Devon U12's bat long and deep. Sadly soon after starting the team was 11-4 and although Joe Farmer made a brisk 20 four out of the top five came back to the pavilion with a 0 against their name. However the game was not over and 27 was put on for the fifth wicket and things started to look better. Somerset heads started to go down as wickets were harder to come by and with three wickets in hand and less than 40 runs to get Devon hopes started to rise. Unfortunately the last three wickets were lost for only 3 runs and Devon was left ruing what might have been. However everyone agreed that it was an excellent game of cricket and hopefully the boys learned something about determination and application. They certainly learned about squeezing an opposiiton when they are in the field. There were some good individual performances and although Devon U12's lost, the boys put up a real fight and up until the last few overs could have grasped victory out of the jaws of defeat. As one parent said, "Last year, after the start they had,m they would have been all out for less than 50; this year they've matured and grown and keep fighting."
John Morris (Devon U12 Manager.)
