Devon beat Dorset in a reduced (20 overs per side) match on Sunday 26 June at Uplyme CC.

In another rain affected match, Devon U12's out bowled, out batted and out fielded a Dorset U12 team.  Played at Uplyme CC (we believe that its the first time a County age group match has been played there) with very damp conditions and rain forecast, it was agreed between managers, coaches and umpires that the teams would play a twenty over match but without the fielding restrictions of normal T20 cricket.  The decision was greeted enthusiastically by the boys from both teams although Devon boys were less than enthused when they were told they still had to play in whites!

Archie Farkins won the toss (yet again!) and decided to have a bat first.  The scoring was brisk and occasionally frenetic.  Joe Famer and Archie Farkins opened and the score ticked along with some typically aggressive running.  Two big sixes over the squar leg boundary by Archie helped the score move along.  Joe Farmer was run out for 18 off 20 balls and Archie was out bowled  for 31 off 34 balls attempting another big shot across the line to a ball that stayed low.  Wickets going down didn’t affect the scoring rate too much and 25 off 23 balls by James Hayter helped the cause.   Devon ended on 127 for 7 off their twenty overs.

After tea and with the drizzle already starting sporadically, Devon started their defence.  Wilf Auty had a dream start clean bowling Savage for 0 off his first ball.  Wickets followed in a steady procession and with the visitors on 62 -9 Devon U12’s lost concentration for a few overs.  With the rain coming on more and more steadily they were very fortunate that the umpires allowed them to play out the match but with one ball to go in the 19th over, Dorset were all out for 95.  The boys learned soon afterwards that Dorset would have escaped with a draw if the Umpires had brought the players off and hopefully another lesson learned in pressing home an advantage, even when it appears the game is done and dusted.  Ollie Smith bowled well for his 3 for 14 off 3 overs and in all eight bowlers shared out the wickets and overs between them.

One Devon U12 batsman was heard to say, “Can we play another T20 after this one?”  Suffice to say, I will explore ways in which we might introduce a few T20’s to the cricket season next year.

John Morris  (Devon U12 Manager)