Devon Cricket Board - DCBYA U14s 2011 Festival Report

Devon Cricket Board Youth Association Under 14s
Festival Report

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Day 1 Worcestershire Pitch 3. 50 overs a side.

Good warm up, probably the best of the season to date, the lads really active and alert. The weather forecast was not great. The pitch was covered and if the remainder of the square was anything to go on, it would be green, artificially green and it was. Good toss to win as it was overcast and threatening to rain. Marcus lost it, twice as the umpires were not present the first time! We were asked to bat.

It was tough, Worcestershire bowled straight, just back of a length and it swung and seamed. It also bounced a little more than we have experienced recently and Marcus got a good one second over and got an inside edge and was caught behind. Jack Maunder followed next ball, not the best of shots Jack also caught behind. 2-0! Dan Powell avoided the hat trick ball and began to repair the situation with Matt Skeemer who had watched the wickets fall from the other end. They dug in and gradually they built their partnership with Powell particularly dismissive of the bad deliver. Actually the score rocketed along and it was on 73 in the 15^th over when Matt played over the top of a left arm over delivery and was bowled. It was almost out of the blue. He later mentioned he was thinking about the drinks break which was coming up…Dom Bess joined Powell and they put on 42 in 8 overs, with Dan making his half century and Bessy playing the shot of the day a sumptuous extra cover drive, when Dom tried to flick the leg spinner’s full delivery to leg, missed it and was adjudged LBW. Pity! Henry Gater was then bowled by the leggie, and Dan played a slightly tired non shot and was given out LBW to the leggie too. Seb Ansley and Jack Thomas, then took the score onto 179-6 at lunch with 13 overs of Devon’s 50 overs left. Lunch came at a bad time as we had the initiative and although the pair put on another 24, Jack breaking his bat again, he got out bowled and Seb then followed. Todd and Jack Brazier put on a few more and we are all out in the last over for 238.

Adam and I would have settled for that at 2-0! A defendable total, one Worcestershire would have to bat well to get. Perhaps however I am being a little hard but should we not have got 250+ given the score at lunch?

Worcestershire are fairly cautious in reply and we initially bowl well and Ollie Dawe takes a wicket in his second over. 16-1. They then have a good partnership of 67 before Bessy removes the number 3 with his fifth ball. 74-1 in16 overs. It then rained and rained and the match was abandoned. What ifs et al. We may be wrong but Adam and I think we would have won or had a winning draw, especially if we could have got one or two more quick wickets which given that the spinners were just coming on we think we would have. Never mind we will never know.. We scored one more point than Worcesterhire. It could prove vital.

Devon 238 all out. Powell 64. Ansley 58. Partnerships Skeemer and Powell 71; Powell and Bess 42; Powell and Ansley 35; Ansley and Thomas 47. Worcestershire 83-2 off 17.5 overs. Match abandonded/ drawn.

Day 2 Gloucestershire Pitch 2. 50 overs a side.

It rained hard during the night and it rained first thing in the morning. Pitch 2 not the best place to be when it has rained or is likely to rain. Nevertheless we warmed up assuming a 10.00 O’clock start and even though the outfield was wet, we started on time. We lost the toss and Gloucestershire decided to bat - strange we felt as we would have put them in. Jack Thomas felt he couldn’t open as he had a thigh strain, but it was suggested he should try at the last moment. First over a maiden, Ollie first over a maiden. Great start. 4^th over Ollie pitches one up and the Gloucester opener plays across the line and is LBW, 9-1. Jack and Ollie continue to bowl well and in the 10^th over Ollie again pitches the ball up and LBW, 25-2. There is then a stand of 33 before Matt Skeemer induces a shot across the line, again, and Dom Bess comfortably takes a skier. 58-3 in the 20^th over. Gloucester’s number 4 and 5 then strive to recover the position putting on 42 in 10 overs when another across the line shot gives Bess his first wicket, LBW. Seb Ansley then bowls the number 5, 108-5 which quickly becomes 110-6 when Jack Maunder takes the first of his two stumpings, this one off Bess. Seb then gets his second wicket 112-7, and Bess bowls another, 113-8. Gloucestershire’s middle/ lower order batters struggled to know how to play the spinners and with all the pressure exerted by Devon’s bowling and fielding performance crumbled to116 all out in the 41^st over, with Bess taking 4-17 and Ansley 3-12. It was an excellent performance but only half the job was done.

116 is one of those difficult scores. Devon had 59 overs to get the runs. Just go out and bat was the instructions and the runs will follow. 6 came off the first over, 29 off the first 5 overs with Matt Skeemer particularly punishing anything loose. On 47 in the 8^th over he miss timed a pull shot off one of Gloucester’s leggies and top edged to deep square leg. Enter Jack Maunder who calmly placed a back foot shot through the covers for 4, first ball. It set the tone and with Hodders content to play the supporting role, actually batting to orders, Jack quickly raced to 49 when the winning runs arrived in the 24^th over. Jack played some super shots included a huge straight one drive onto the hockey pitches. Devon winning by 9 wickets. A very comprehensive and mature victory.

Finishing so early - 2.15pm has its draw backs. But the U10s were playing Surrey and after a brief game of rugby it was off to watch them for a while then a net for those who wanted it. During the evening the now annual match against the U10s was held. Great fun! Unlike last year, we won!

Gloucestershire 116 all out. Dawe 6-2-19-2; Bess 8-2-17-4; Ansley 6.5-1-12-3. Devon 117-1. Maunder 49 NO; Hoddinott 24 NO; Skeemer 31. Partnerships Skeemer and Hoddinott 47; Hoddinott and Maunder 70. Devon won by 9 wickets.

Day 3 Yorkshire Pitch 1. 30 overs a side

It rained and it rained. No play before lunch, which would be normal time. To the sports’ hall and football against Dorset. Their keeper was outstanding. The score somehow was 2 all at the final whistle and a penalty shootout followed, which Devon won. The weather started to clear but the outfield and square were very wet and both Devon and Yorkshire were not convinced a 1.30pm start was safe. The toss was critical and guess what we lost it and were asked to bat in a 30/30 match! We started at 1.45pm. 8 off the first over; 13 off two - an excellent start. Then the Yorkshire openers found their length including the odd bouncer and poor old Hodders wore a few, with fine bruises to show it. Yorkshire’s bowlers probably the best we have faced this year were lively and bowled with control. Matt Skeemer was again batting well and putting away the bad ball before Marcus was adjudged LBW to Thompson Yorkshire’s excellent captain and first change bowler. Jack Maunder and Dan Powell both got out to Thompson and Warner respectively, caught behind off rising deliveries just short of a length outside off stump, superb bowling. 54-3 off 15 overs. Matt Skeemer then had the indignity of getting out to Yorkshire’s 13 year old leggie who had given him a hard time in the pool the evening before- “I had you in the pool last night and I’m going have you again” and he did, caught mid off. Seb promoted and Dom Bess then put on 38 in 8 overs but perhaps we did not take enough singles and push harder to turn ones into twos etc? Trying to get up the other end Seb miss cued and was caught off Thompson and Bess was caught off the impressive Fisher. Henry Gater perished last ball trying to hit a boundary, go at the bowler and hit straight. 121-7 probably below par as it was drying out. That toss!

Jack Thomas and Ollie Dawe bowled quite well, although wides disappointed, but without Yorkshire’s pace and menace. Knowing the score to chase, Yorkshire were also able to take no risks and played any good deliveries cautiously. 20 after 6 overs a good start and Seb got the first wicket, a miss timed drive caught by Bessy in the 14^th over, 59-1. The number of runs not dissimilar to Devon but for 2 wickets less. There was then a partnership of 34 during which a stumping and catch or two went begging, which you just can’t afford against a side like Yorkshire and they progressed onto 89 in the 22^nd over when Matt Skeemer who bowled beautifully got an edge and Jack Maunder took off and clasped a wonderful diving one handed catch to get rid of Lamb. All the time Thompson was batting beautifully and with Fisher he guided Yorkshire home to victory in the 29^th over; Yorkshire 125-2 winning by 8 wickets. The score perhaps does not show the difference in the two sides?

Devon 121-7. Skeemer 31. Yorkshire 125-2 in the 29th over. Devon lost by 8 wickets.

Day 4 Derbyshire Pitch 1. 50 overs a side.

Nice morning the weather looks good. The warm up goes well and we win the toss! Derbyshire are asked to bat. Rocky where are your bowling boots? Quick phone call home and has anyone size 12s? Jack Maunder.

Ben Roberts opens down the hill and bowls a maiden and Ollie opens up the hill. In the 6th over Ollie takes the first wicket caught behind Dan Powell, good start. There is then a small stand before Matt Skeemer bowling in tandem with Bessy start to turn the screws and Matt strikes clipping the top of off stump. He then takes a second caught behind by Dan again before Bessy who Derbyshire hardly play a shot against takes his only wicket caught Jack Brazier. 63-4 off 27 overs. Seb Ansley then takes two wickets and has a caught behind declined and Todd Rossouw joins the wicket takers caught Matt Skeemer. Derbyshire tail then wags a little before a risky single to Jack Maunder is a mistake and he throws the stumps down. Ben Roberts returns and finishes off the tail, Derbyshire 130 all out in the 49 overs. Below par!

Marcus is asked to bat through and score 40+ and if he does we will win comfortably. Matt Skeemer plays one of his not so good shots to a wide short ball and balloons a catch. Jack Maunder who has enjoyed not keeping wicket not only looks more relaxed, is more relaxed and he quickly gets into his stride putting away the bad ball and playing some lovely shots. The score, pretty much untroubled, Marcus was probably out caught behind, 90 -1 off 23 when runs are coming easier and the end perhaps is in sight when Maunder plays a slightly loose shot and is caught. Unusually Dan Powell gets a little bogged down and is caught behind and Barnaby Meadowcroft misses a straight one. Henry Gater and Marcus then see off the few remaining runs and Devon win by 6 wickets and it is only 3.00pm!

Quick cool down and then off to watch Somerset score 407-7 and fast food on the way home and then cake to celebrate Bessy’s birthday. We loose to Yorkshire at water polo having given them a drubbing the night before. Too many players muck around or do not participate- it was hard to take! We are third by one point to Worcestershire. One day to go.

Derbyshire 130 all out. Roberts 5.4-2-20-2; Skeemer 8-4-19-2; Ansley 8-4-15-2. Devon 132-4. Hoddinott 39 NO; Maunder 37. Partnerships Hoddinott and Maunder 83. Devon won by 6 wickets.

Day 5 Dorset Pitch 2. 50 overs a side.

Everyone is surprisingly spritely and after rooms are tidied and emptied - it is off to breakfast and then pitch 2. The warm up went well. We won that again! The music helps.. Crikey we won the toss and put Dorset in, who had had a good match against Gloucestershire the day before. Jack Thomas rested and repaired by Colin, the scourge of Dorset two years ago opened with Ollie Dawe. The Dorset players on the boundary notice and straight away wickets started to tumbled! Funny how you take wickets and score runs against the same sides! Amazing thing this confidence/self belief thing.. 1-0 bowled Thomas, 2-1 caught behind Powell bowled Thomas. Then Jack let Ollie join in LBW before Jack took the fourth and fifth wickets, caught Gates and bowled, Dorset 28-5. Turn the screw and we did. Ollie took his second wicket, you will have days/ weeks when you don’t bowl so well but take more wickets and then Matt Skeemer, Denis’s best friend, ran through the tail taking three wickets, Bessy, Hodders and Barny taking the catches and then Bessy put Dorset out of their misery. 45 all out and only 20 overs bowled!

Hodders a little bruised after his catch is not fit enough to open so Dan Powell and Jack Brazier, who volunteered, open with Gates at three. It is all fairly pedestrian when Dan gets a rush of blood in the seventh over skips down the pitch and misses Dorset’s leggie and is stumped. Oh dear, 27-1. Gates and Jack take it to within 8 runs when the lunch break arrives. Surely the umpires will not come off. They do. Last lunch of the week so make it a good one and on coming out of the dining hall, guess what it is raining, raining steadily!! After a short break the umpires decide to start in the rain, think they may have been a little anxious, guess what we loose a wicket, Gates playing over a yorker… Barny and Jack then untroubled knock the runs off and we are finished by 1.30pm, winning by 8 wickets. It is then a case of packing cars, watching the Yorkshire match, Mystic Meg right pitch this time, which was excellent and oh we can go home early, well we could if the photographer arrived. He did eventually and it was home early which was very welcome.

Dorset 45 all out. Thomas 6-2-13-4; Dawe 6-2-10-2; Skeemer 4-0-7-3. Devon 46-2. Brazier 18NO. Partnership Powell and Brazier 27. Devon won by 8 wickets.

A great week, much fun and banter; some great cricket and water polo- Barny outstanding in the pool. Shame about loosing to Yorkshire, in the pool! A quick trip to watch Somerset and Durham. Moles, fines, the room of dome, who has Ollie’s boots? A good week- no a fantastic week and we came second.

Thank you lads; thank you parents, grand parents and relatives for your support, the teas, the coffees, the biscuits, the sweets and gifts. Thank you Sue for scoring. Thank you Malcolm Broad, Ted, Ian, Denis and teams plus all at Kings Taunton.

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