What a delight to play at Sidmouth CC on such a glorious June morning. The weather forecast suggests rain after 6.00PM and it did get overcast and fresher as the day went on. The coach is missing and so Phil Bayliss steps in. The players arrive and the warm up goes well. We loose the toss and are asked to bat.

Peter Taylor and David Ackford start well, the occasional ball lifting off just short of a length. Taylor plays two lovely drives before he plays unnecessarily at a wide ball and is brilliantly caught by Somerset's keeper Lee. Samuel Wyatt-Haines gets a ball that takes off just short of a length which he cannot get his hands and bat out of the way of and he is caught behind. Ackford and Alistair Chilcott rebuild and put on 31 before Chilcott gets another that lifts too and he is caught behind. 64-3. Olli Higgs and Ackford put on 22 before Higgs sits back on a cut and is caught tamely at point. Billy Searle joins Ackford and hits the ball to mid off calls yes and Ackford is run out for a solid 28! Ollie Sale and Searle take the score to 115 when Searle gets out to Sobczak. Theo Thomson supports Sale who is batting very well before Thomson loses his middle stump, trying to hit out. Harry Choules and Sale then put on a very good 37 with Sale hitting two big sixes on his way to an excellent 52 before he is bowled and Billy Barriball is run out on the last ball. Devon 169-9 off their 45 overs.

Yes there was some very good bowling, and the bounce was occasionally variable but did some players capitulate by getting out and not being bowled out? We need to take responsibility, play positively but value our wickets more, have more awareness, build partnerships and have better shot selection. 169 was always going to be a difficult score to defend; we would have to bowl and field really well and have that bit of luck, that luck that you make, that luck that has been missing so far this season.

A plan is hatched during tea, thinking outside the bubble, excellent, to bowl at Will Sobczak and after Olli Sale's first over David Ackford bowls down the hill. First ball an inside edge which takes the varnish off the leg stump and a single is taken. Frustration and no luck! The lack of luck continues when Harry Choules injures a finger and comes off and Peter Taylor takes over behind the stumps and does really well. Somerset's openers bat well and as hard as the Devon's bowlers try they do not get the ball in the right areas. At drinks, after 15 overs, instructions are given to bring the spinners on, in reality they should have been on much earlier! The run rate slows, batting is not so easy and Sobczak plays a loose shot off Billy barriball and is caught by Thomson. Thomson then takes a stunning caught and bowled to get rid of Murley. 99-2. Barriball takes a second wicket 113-3. Somerset's Rouse realising if he stays there the spinners will bowl out and Devon will have to revert to pace, just takes the occasional single and keeps the score quietly ticking over. Supported by Dann they put on 32 and when Kelly joins Rouse, 40 not out, they knock the runs off with overs to spare. Devon lost by 6 wickets. 

Yes another disappointing result but there were some more positives. Peter Taylor and David Ackford looked like openers and batted well, Ollie Sale batted beautifully, both spinners did a good job, there was some very good fielding and the players really gave their all, Theo took a stunning catch and at the end the players were gutted to have lost. We need to keep doing the basics, believing in ourselves and each other, giving our all for each other. Total commitment. As I told you, you are very close to turning it around. Last year's side had that little bit of luck you have been missing so far this season and it made such a difference to their confidence and their performance. Keep practicing and playing hard, believe and trust in each other more and it will happen, our luck will change. It will. Just listen, learn and trust me more!

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