Devon v Wiltshire (2)

Devon’s reply couldn’t have started off any worse for them as Julian Page looked to be surprised by a delivery that struck him on the pads and saw him given out leg before by the Wiltshire umpire. With Eames, Macey and Shepherd all making some form of starts, the visitors still had their opportunities to build the foundations of a successful run chase. But in each and every case, all three lost their wickets, Eames and Shepherd being bowled and Macey falling to a sharp catch at first slip. When the luckless Chris Theedom was bowled for a solitary single, Devon had slumped to a precarious 57 for 5 and staring at losing their season opening fixture for the second successive year. Enter to the fray all rounder Mike Canning to join Stuart Lott. Mike made his intentions fully clear when he struck only his 5th ball high over the cover point boundary for six precious runs and already the second boundary of his innings. “Slotty” wasn’t going to be left behind and stroked two fine fours of his own as the two of them raced to their 50 partnership in only 42 deliveries and in an extremely brisk and exciting 27 minutes. Mike had bludgeoned his way to 48 when he went for yet another huge blow over long off only to be comfortably caught by Wiltshire captain Pete Mathias. Mike Canning’s innings had taken only 36 balls and had contained no fewer than 6 fours to go along with that early 6. Between them, Canning and Lott had brought Devon back from the brink to having serious thoughts of winning the game. Stuart Lott went onto an invaluable 39 before being bowled and after Dave Amery had followed him back to the pavilion in exactly the same manner for only 3, the impish Pete Rose strode out to join Nigel Mountford at the crease with the total on a dismal looking 176 for 8 but with Devon still only needing 8 runs an over, from the final 8 overs of the innings to snatch was had earlier looked a quite impossible victory. Wicket-Keeper Nigel Mountford proceeded to roll back the years in his attempt to gain that victory. His innings of 46 from only 35 deliveries contained 5 boundaries and one imperious lofted six over the mid wicket boundary. However, the look on everyone’s face from the front of the Devon changing room told the story as “Nige” turned and walked away from the wicket after a loud appeal from the Wiltshire side after nicking one through to his opposite number Mitchell behind the stumps. The umpire had no need in giving a decision and the sportsmanship that Nigel Mountford showed in walking in such a tense and vital time of the match needs applauding. It’s sad to say, but seldom few of the cricketers that play in League cricket of a Saturday would have made the same decision.

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