Devon Cricket Board Youth Association Under 14s
 Hampshire Match Report

 





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Up early, phone Mike Brogan, already on his way and the weather is not looking promising, well that is what the weather forecast says. Ring Jock Spry, wake poor Julie (sorry and she is doing the teas!), Jock is about to leave for Thorverton's ground and also go to Shobrook Park to borrow a set of covers. Jock says it is dry, it will be alright! Tell Mike Brogan to keep on the road.

Arrive at Thorverton, overcast and no real signs of rain, choice of pitches, Jock please mark the right one! Everyone arrives and Thorverton looks great, the square well watered and the outfield smooth and electric. Cups of tea and a warm welcome abound. Callum Whittaker's warm up goes well - we win the toss and bowl, putting our strength second, especially as Hilly the groundsman says their are lots of runs to be scored- he was right, but too many against us!

Jack Thomas and Kieran Vinnicombe open and it quickly becomes evident that the outfield really is fast and anything which beats the ring is 4. Unfortuantely we bowl too many 4 balls, inconsistent length really and Hampshire progress all too easily. In amongst it however, there are some knicks which might go to hand another day. Getting knicks is a plus. Matt Skeemer comes on in the 5th over and bowls again with control and when Bessy joins in in the 9th over almost normality commences. The scoring rate slows and fields can be set and then that bit of luck Bessy has Jo Weatherly LBW. Felix Ambrose who had scored a double hundred in 45 overs against Gloucestershire last week then gives his wicket away by hitting Bess to Matt Skeemer at backward point. 89-2 off 15 overs. Thank you! However Gorvin and Arnold take it on and Seb Ansley replacing the injured Bess has Gorvin brilliantly stumped by fast hands Jack Maunder. 169-3 in the 31st over. 300 in on! I know the outfield is fast and our bowling once or twice an over generous but.. that's alot of runs in 45 overs. Whay affect will it have on the players?

169-3 becomes 224-4 in the 36th over when Skeemer has Lewis well caught on the boundary by Henry Gater, cooly taken and good hands. Kieran Vinnicombe then gets the first of his 3 wickets, 3-34 off his last 5 overs at the death -good effort as 6 of those runs were when a car got hit on the main road! Reece Boase also gets his first County scalp having Will Arnold caught at mid wicket by Bessy whose back has recovered and who has had to go on to replace Henry Gater who had to go off having smashed his head on the Thorverton outfield brilliantly saving a 4. They don't make them like they used too and those pink pills, Mrs B must have all been used up. They seem to work though and match some of the lads apparel. We also have two run outs as Hampshire go for runs and their innings come to a if anything timid end on 284 all out. Not a bad score though and just as well we bowled and fielded so well in the last 15 overs.

After a splendid tea, thank you very much Julie Choules and helpers, Devon set about their sizable task, yes it is daunting but how many runs is the outfield worth. Bat sensibly, pick up those scabby runs and if we can keep wickets in hands anything is possible. Come on we can do it. Dan Powell and Matt Skeemer open, difficult to change this partnership after last week and they put on 48 in 9 overs against a Hampshire attack which gives little away. Powell then knicks, rather gives catching practice to the keeper and one soon becomes two when Skeemer chips to backward point. 58-2.

We need that 80+ partnership. Hodders is then adjudged LBW and Gater follows next ball LBW- hope your Dad makes you a Primary Club Member! I have the forms. 82-4 in the 16th over, the drinks break hoodo did it again or was it the jelly beans? Enter Dom Bess and he and Jack Maunder together put on 75 in 15 overs. It was a great partnership and sounds very good, don;t get me wrong but actually Hampshire were very canny. We needed to be scoring at a slightly quicker rate. At times they kept Jack off strike very well and bowled more at Bessy. Eventually Jack, who had scored his 50 got frustrated and got out bowled. Eight runs later Bessy is run out for 32. Seb Ansley and Jack Thomas then set about the bowling before Seb miscues and is caught. 206-8. Jack Brazier joins JT who by now is entertaining the large crowd hitting boundaries all over the place. He is in his element, licence to thrill and he does. Mission impossble yes but we could get close. Gorvin spoils the fun bowling Jack in the 44th over and Devon's innings closes on 255-9, a very spirited reply and unfortunately a loss by 29 runs and certainly a case of what might have been if we had bowled just that litlte bit better.

Our very sincere thanks to Thorverton CC, Jock Spry and Hilly the Groundsman plus others who helped prepare the ground and excellent wicket, Julie Choules and friends for the cups of tea and awesome spread. We will be back if you will have us. Don't tell the other age groups how good it is to play at Thorverton. The umpires, Sue for scoring and all the parents, brothers and sisters plus grand parents for their support. Thank you. What a lovely day. Just a pity we didn't scrape over the line.

Hampshire 284 all out. F Ambrose 46. A Gorvin 48. W Arnold 76. K Vinnicombe 3-54. Devon 266-9. J Maunder 51. J Thomas 47. L Evans 4-54. Hampshire won by 29 runs.

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