Devon Under 18 Boys fell agonisingly short of retaining their National Counties T20 title at Kibworth CC earlier this month.

Semi-Final: Devon Under 18 Boys vs Norfolk

The Under 18 Boys worked hard to reach Finals Day after an inconsistent group stage was followed up by the incredible defeat of Buckinghamshire by 5 wickets in the quarter-finals to reach their third Finals Day in as many seasons.

Choosing to bat first, Devon's innings was built on a foundation of powerful cameos. Matt Whalley set the tempo with a rapid 38 from 31 balls, including two sixes, sharing a crucial 72-run stand with captain Freddie Cockram (28), the momentum of which Noah Musikanth (25) carried through the middle of the innings. Though a cluster of wickets threatened to derail their momentum, a blistering, unbeaten 24 from just 15 balls by Josh Nott propelled Devon to a highly competitive 165/7.

The total proved more than sufficient as Devon's bowling attack produced a disciplined display. The new ball pair of Alex Shutt (1-11) and Josh Nott (1-9) bowled economically, reducing Norfolk to 18/3 and applying immediate pressure to the scoreboard. Josh Thompson (2-35) chipped in with key middle-order wickets, but the final word belonged to Matt Whalley. The spinner capped his magnificent all-round day by taking three wickets from four balls, finishing with remarkable figures of 3-9 from just 1.4 overs, ably supported by fellow spinners Charlie Gaywood (1-21) and Luke Thomas (1-7), sealing Norfolk's fate for 113.

Scorecard

Devon Under 18 Boys 165/7 (M Whalley 38, F Cockram 28; A Robson 3-30)

Norfolk 113ao (E Uthayarajan 29, L Williams 24; M Whalley 3-9, J Thompson 2-35)

Devon Under 18 Boys beat Norfolk by 52 runs.

Final: Berkshire vs Devon Under 18 Boys

In a rematch of the past two finals, Devon fell just short in a spirited pursuit of 197, succumbing to a 23-run defeat against a strong Berkshire side.

Berkshire's imposing total of 196/7 was built on a foundation of explosive batting from Ralf Beer (53 off 34), Bobby Brown (34 off 25) and Connor Lamsdale (57 off 29). Devon's bowlers toiled manfully on a flat track, with Alex Shutt (2-21) and Luke Thomas (2-36) making early inroads, but the sheer power of the Berkshire lineup carried them to a formidable figure.

Facing a daunting required rate, Devon's reply began on the back foot, losing powerhouse Josh Thompson to the first ball of the innings and being reduced to 9/2 in the third over. However, Musikanth launched a breathtaking counter-attack, smashing 39 from just 18 deliveries to reignite hope. When he fell, captain Cockram took up the mantle, blasting a magnificent 50 from 26 balls. But his dismissal at 143/8 swung the momentum back heavily in Berkshire's favour. A stunning late cameo from Joe Hopkins (33 off 18) gave Devon an unlikely late chance at the title, but when he was caught on the boundary, their fate was sealed at 173 all out.

Scorecard

Berkshire 196/7 (C Lamsdale 57, R Beer 53; A Shutt 2-21, L Thomas 2-36, N Musikanth 2-48)

Devon Under 18 Boys 173ao (F Cockram 50, N Musikanth 39; C Lamsdale 3-36, F Mercer 2-33)

Berkshire beat Devon Under 18 Boys by 23 runs.

Sandy Allen's Post-Finals Thoughts

"We were delighted to have got this far again this year. The boys gave a good account of themselves and should be very proud to have reached the final for a third year running.

"The team have followed in the footsteps of previous sides and continued to set a high standard for future teams to come."