Six wicket win at Exmouth

We met up with the Cornwall Under 17s at Gordano's the previous evening so we knew their sixteen's would be with us at Exmouth which in this summer of uncertainty was a relief! Sandy Allen had been up at dawn to make sure the pitch was in its normal tip top condition and the forecast was for sunny periods. After the Haberdahers debacle the players were on time and compiled perfectly with Sandy's time table and there were no complaints when the football was brought to a conclusion. Undoubtedly there is more talent with the feet in this group than in most years and they have even lost Michael Cooper who is making good progress at Home Park and this was the anniversary of his last county match. The pre match preparations approached the standard required at this level. Leon Horn won the toss and fielded on the basis that if any period the first hour was likely to be the most difficult of the day. Matt Parker, in possibly his last county appearance of the summer as an old injury has reared its ugly head, opened from the pavilion end and Jamie Lathwell at the sea end. Lathwell struck with the final ball of his first over had Orpe caught by Williams. With the fifth ball of his fourth over Lathwell bowled the second opener Adams leaving Cornwall 26-2.The third wicket pairing of captain Alex Bone and Piren Kent put on one hundred and twenty-two in sixty-seven minutes off one hundred and forty-three balls. Devon looked distinctly average in the field and Horn employed Williams, Creasey, Williams, Yabsley and himself. It was the introduction of Chris Yabsley that turned the tide as with his fifth legal ball he had Kent stumped by Tom Oxland, on his keeping debut, for 52 -148-3. Cornwall were well placed to set a very competitive target. However four balls later the captain struck with a catch from Jamie Khan that removed Cornwall's top scorer and captain, the last in the long line of Bones. A reasonable target appeared likely as the fifth wicket put on another forty-eight when Yabsley bowled Brenton in the forty-first over. In fact over the remaining nine overs Cornwall lost the remainder of their side with the addition of just forty-four runs. Oxland took his second stumping off Ben Abrahams, that bowler caught Lello off Yabsley, Horn and Abrahams removed Lealthey who had made such an impression in last year's fixture, Yabsley returned the compliment to Abrahams and Sam Taylor's smart fielding gave the 16/17s their first run out of the summer. The final total of 241 required a chase at just under fives.

Baked potatoes proved very successful plus an outstanding bread and butter pudding with custard. Ashley Causey and Jamie Khan put on 50 in eleven overs when Lello bowled the Bovey batsman. The second wicket partnership of James Bovey and Khan put on eighty-one in forty-three minutes, Khan contributed fifty-two and Bovey twenty-nine. Bovey was out in the twenty-five over so at the half-way stage Devon needed just a further one hundred and ten so they had paced their chase well. Ben Abrahams fell in the twenty-eighth over -141-3. Sam Taylor appeared to be loose patients when in fact this was a glorious opportunity for him to demonstrate what he has to offer. He will get another opportunity. He was stumped twelfth ball - 150-5. Fortunately Khan was creating a stir at the other end. Jamie Khan can excite and exasperate his admirers in equal measure but he completed a stunning innings going on to score his maiden county hundred. He did ride his luck with a couple of chances but he timed the ball brilliantly and showed sensible shot selection. If he can in future impose just a modicum of self restraint he will score many more county hundreds. With the captain he added an unbeaten ninety-four off just seventy deliveries in thirty-nine minutes. Leon Horn contributed twenty-five and Khan forty-four. Devon achieved their objective in the forty-second over scoring at just under sixes- a most accomplished performance.

Although Devon have five two day games to come they now have just two one day games and a T20 left in preparation for hopefully a season in the top division in 2017 with white balls and coloured clothing. Exmouth, who are hosting the sixteen's two day game with Somerset were again outstanding but the coach left believing there was still much work to be undertaken with the squad.

Scorecard