Devon Cricket Board Over 50s v.  Wiltshire Cricket Board Over 50s. @ Trowbridge CC – Thursday 12th May 2005.

Devon travelled to Trowbridge for the opening Championship fixture of 2005 after having all of their early season and trial games cancelled because of the bad weather. Former skipper Chris Theedom was the only doubt for the game due to a foot injury but passed himself fit after a short work out prior to the toss. Devon’s new captain, Julian Page, won the said toss and decided to put Wiltshire in.

The decision looked to be vindicated early on as Wiltshire moved cautiously along at under two runs an over for the first half dozen overs or so. Then, both openers (Alleyne & Warley) began to find their feet and play some more aggressive shots, trying to push Devon firmly onto the back foot. This strategy  seem to work as the hosts moved quite comfortably along to 56 when in the 14th over, Mike Canning struck the first blow for Devon when he trapped Alleyne in front for 27. After dropping a chance with his very first delivery of the game, Stuart Lott then removed Alleyne’s opening partner, Warley, with a neat return catch to leave the total on 64 for the loss of two wickets. Wiltshire skipper Pete Sadler was joined in the middle after Warley’s departure by Tom Edmunds and both batsmen seemed intent in pushing the score along at the highest possible rate and they brought up their 50 partnership in only 69 deliveries.  However, this was nothing of what was to come as Adrian Jeffrey joined Edmunds after Sadler’s dismissal and the two then pushed, chipped and clubbed their way to an outstanding and possibly game turning partnership of 125 in a mere 98 balls. This 4th wicket stand for the hosts had firmly put Wiltshire in pole position in the match and after Edmunds was eventually out for 92 made off only 80 balls, Wiltshire had eventually totalled 251 for 5 from their allocation of 45 overs leaving Devon to score at over five and a half an over to win the game. Pete Rose was again the leading bowler for Devon taking two for 45 with Mike Canning, Stuart Lott and Dave Smale all taking a wicket apiece.

Although Devon’s ground fielding was not too bad, a few sloppy errors had seen them with a much higher total to chase than would have made them feel comfortable. But all in all, every fielder had given their best effort in trying to limit the Wiltshire batsmen from forming any sort of formidable looking target.

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