Devon Over 50’s Cricket Club v. Channel Islands Over 50’s Cricket Club. @ Bovey Tracey CC –Monday 18th July 2005.

Devon went into their final group game of this years County Championship against their counterparts from the Channel Islands, not having beaten their visitors since the Title winning season of 2002.

This task was made a little harder when, for one of the first occasions this summer, skipper Julian Page lost the toss and Devon were asked to bat first. The first was to set the tone for the afternoon as bowler Middleton charged in and bowled 4 wides in the over along with 3 runs and a bye. But, most notably, there also a wicket, that being the first ball dismissal of Pete Shepherd. After a run of impressive scores in this years Championship, Peter was hoping to impress once more especially as the game was being played at his club. But it was not to be and after 1 over Devon were 8 for 1. Skipper Page was then joined at the crease by his vice captain Bob Eames and the pair set out to repair the damage and set the platform for the rest of the side to build a more than competitive total. The left handed pair done this with great application and vigour as they pushed and prodded numerous singles as well striking the odd bad ball to the boundary. The key point of this partnership was the fact that the total was kept moving and when Bob Eames struck a square cut that was plucked out of the air at Cover Point by John Tall, the score had moved along to 80 in only the 17 over. Tall’s catch was to prove to be the first of several  splendid efforts that were snapped up by fielders on both sides through the course of the afternoon.

As so often happens after a decent partnership, when one wicket falls another seems to follow almost immediately and today was no exception to this when after the addition of only another 8 runs Page was caught by the keeper off the bowling of Kinder from a delivery that jumped sharply and rattled into the batsman’s gloves.. 88 for 3 looked as though it could be the start of a wobble, but these worries were laid to rest by yet another left handed pair in Bob Macey and Chris Theedom. With Macey being a little more watchful on what was becoming a slightly unpredictable wicket, and Theedom pushing numerous quick singles, the total was taken up to 163. The pair added 75 runs in only 78 deliveries and when you take into account that Macey’s 18 took him all of 52 balls, you can see that the tempo during this vital partnership was increased steadily throughout. After Macey was caught by Middleton at Long On off the bowling of slow left armer Birkett, the scoring was to take another leap forward when Nick Rogers joined Chris Theedom in the middle. Nick Rogers got off the mark immediately and raced to his 36 from only 34 deliveries. During the 72 runs that were added for the 5th wicket, only 67 balls were faced by Theedom and Rogers.          Next