Devon Cricket Board - DCBYA U14s 2010 v Yorkshire

DCBYA U14s 2010 v Yorkshire

DCBYA Under 14s v Yorkshire, Exmouth CC 2nd August 2010

On a blistering hot day, well most of the time, and so different from the day before at Pencarrow, against Cornwall, when not a ball was bowled, for their last match of the season, and under Adam Parker's and Jon Mears's guidance, the Devon Under 14s entertained Yorkshire on their tour of the West Country. After welcoming Declan Lines for his first cap and a good warm up, using static stretches as well as dynamic ones, Devon lost the toss, no change there then Samuel, and Yorkshire elected to bat on a good looking pitch with a hard scorched outfield.

Ben Holmes and Gillam Crouch opened the bowling and the ball swung immediately. They both bowled well and after perserverance Crouch had the dangerous Luckett LBW with a ball that swung back in from outside the off stump. Samuel Wyatt-Haines took the second wicket again LBW and then Billy Bariball had Budge caught by Wyatt-Haines. 46-3 in the 18th over. So far so good. Simpson and Fraiyne, who had opened, then put on a 50 partnership in 27 minutes to recover the situation and pick up the scoring rate. At lunch Yorkshire 125-3 off 32 overs. After lunch, which didn't help the Devon players, Yorkshire took advantage of the bad ball and the scoring rate picked up immediately even though Devon took two wickets, Fraiyne for 55 caught Harry Choules bowled Ali Chilcott and Simpson LBW Chilcott. Abson, Firn and Birkett all scored runs and with the outfield lightening quick, even with fielders patroling the boundary runs were very difficult to stop as Yorkshire pushed onto 259-7 off their 50 overs, a very good score but acheiveable if Devon batted well, which they ought to on this pitch. Abson scored his fifty off the last ball of the innings smashing a six into the bowls club!

Ollie Higgs and David Ackford opened and the score ticked along nicely with Ackford, much more positive, hitting a couple of boundaries. Higgs then unfortunately got out well caught at second slip, in the 6th over. Enter Samuel Wyatt-Haines. 4 overs later he mis timed a shot to a ball that like Ollie Higg's lifted a little more than expected and was caught at square leg. 41-2 off 10 overs. This was the best but the bouncest pitch Devon had played on all season, bounce something we are not that used to in Devon. It was now down to the remainder of Devon's batters to knuckle down and get the runs. Ali Chilcott and Ackford took the score along, but the intorduction of Yorkshire's spinners made a difference to the run rate which slowed. Chilcott, who has had a good season, departed LBW with the score on 71 off 22 overs. Theo Thomson, who has had a great first season with the bat for Devon, joined Ackford and together they put on 78, when Thomson, 37, was run out by a direct hit going for a second. Not unusally, on the boundary, there was some debate as to if it was out or not but it was and Devon had to get on with it. Thomson and Ackford put on 50 in 34 minutes off 70 balls and along the way David Ackford scored his debut County 50, 101 minutes,103 balls, something to remember and to build off. Wickets then fell at regular intervals as Devon tried to score runs and eventually they were all out for 183 in the 48th over.

Many thanks to to Exmouth CC, Dave Fouracre for such a great pitch and all the volunteers who made the day possible, to the umpires and Jenny the caterer and her family. Thanks to all the people who watched and added to the atmosphere.

After the match the Devon players, their families, Adam Parker Coach, Dennis White DACO Scorer and Jon Mears said their fond farewells. It had been a very enjoyable season. Seven players have made their County debut, many cricket lessons have been learnt, feathers and wings to fly and all that, but perhaps for various reasons the side has not fully realised its potential. It will in years to come.

Scorecard

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