The disadvantage of playing on the same ground/pitch is the demons that a difficult track can spark in the mind. Comments that no one will score three hundred on that spark negative rather than positive thoughts. The inability to chase 120 will also have cast some self doubt so it was a difficult first day of two at the well appointed Totton ground. The toss was going to be critical in order to ease them back in. Hickey of course reverted to type and Devon batted. Whether it was a minefield or not the perception was that it was not a road. Connor Bryan had agreed to open, enabling Will Matthewman to continue his specific marshalling role. He looked competent until in the third over, ten minutes into the game Lilley (no relation to Dennis) jagged one back with Bryan more concerned about the ball hitting his gloves allowed the ball to strike his elbow. It looked painful from the side, his face showed the real pain. He was whisked off to Southampton General - our real thanks to taxi driver Kevin McDonnell. In the three hours he was away Devon were bowled out for 122. Two fell at eight – the previous day’s hero Brown and Thompson. Brown caught behind, the keeper leg before. Sixteen were added by the captain and Huxtable with the latter bowled for 8. Hickey had decided the previous day that he fancied the spinner Miller, he smote him for a four and after 42 minutes at the crease was caught off the leggie. Devon was now 30-4(5) when the two Williams Gater and Matthewman applied themselves to put on 62. Both were splendid performances with Gater providing the impetus and Matthewman provided his partner with stability. On 42 out of 93 Gater was caught behind for another exceptional innings. Matthewman then committed a cardinal. He knows his role is to be a latter Thompson and bat through with the lower order. He was out the next over -annoying. 100-6(7) became 122 all-out without a major wag apart from Zak Bess who looked like his batting confidence was being restored. Alex Carr was undefeated on 8. The opener returned with the news of a small cracked bone that might affect his cricket for more weeks than he cares. He will be missed with both bat and ball and it is hoped he will be back sooner rather than later. Devon had batted for 44 overs leaving them 58 overs to make some inroads and wreak havoc. The fact they only took one wicket, in the eighteenth and first over after tea when George was neatly stumped by Thompson off Matthewman says a lot. Otherwise it was a disappointing second day performance from all. The boundary size of the ground restricted the captain the opportunity of bowling both the spinners in tandem which was a hindrance. When he did it was the unlucky Matthewman who had to deal with the short railway boundary and his otherwise solid figures were rather misleading. Both the spinners bowled well but this performance resulted in a major rethink on the balance for the rest of the summer. The mindset seemed to be wrong as Rouse advanced to a very fine hundred off 156 balls. He received good support from Gibson as he led his side off at stumps with a lead of ninety. The side seemed reasonable happy at their standing in the game which was disappointing. The Oak had a different staff, were out of apple pie but provided nourishment. No one could have predicted what was to happen next morning. It was anticipated the game plan was to rush to 300 get all the batting points and bowl Devon out before three so we could miss the rush hour.

What did happen was one of the best sessions put on by an under 17 side! They took the remaining nine Hampshire wickets in 19.3 overs for just 35 runs. Hickey opened with Ingham and Gater and they put on the best spell of seam bowling of the three days. Having put on 146 for the third wicket the captain was the first to go in identical manner to the one day game. Ingham has an ability to remove the opposition’s top batters and Thompson did the rest. It was then a procession as it was clear that Rouse was their exceptional player and the real difference between the two sides. Gater bowled Miller and then trapped King in front. His six over onslaught from his unflavoured end resulted in figures of 2-9. Bess replaced Ingham (6-0-14-1) and took two in his first wicket maiden both caught behind, the first being the second top scorer – Gibson. It was now 233-6 and the remaining four wickets added just 11. After trying Carr, Joe Smith suggested to the captain that he should take over. He took 3-3 in 1.5. caught behind, caught Golding, caught and bowled. Bess had chipped in with a third when he trapped Wright in front. This had been a remarkable turnabout and restored some real self belief that had been missing the previous day. Lunch was thirty-one minutes away and Zak Bess the wise choice of third opener in three days. Devon was comfortably placed at 23-0 off nine at lunch. Thompson and Bess took the score up to 53 when Bess was caught and bowled for the second time but this time after 86 minutes at the crease for a vital 27. Anchor Thompson and Brown took the score up to 120 a partnership of 67 when Miller caught Thompson to the surprise of all. He was looking as if he could bat through. He had been at the crease for 171 minutes facing 139 balls falling one short of his fifty. The captain came and went – stumped off the leggie, indicating that a net or two might be the order of the day before the next game. Brown and Huxtable put on three short of fifty when Brown fell in a similar way to his keeper. He at least had passed his fifty off 135 balls. Gater sadly lasted only eleven when he repeated his 2007 Axminster exploits and was also stumped. Huxtable was another batter who had turned the corner during the week and was the second half centurion before getting himself out. Matthewman obeyed instructions as he watched Eaves novel approach to blocking when he lifted Miller into the Groundsmans store! Hickey called them in with a couple of unspent overs. The rugby was energetic clearly displaying the change in attitude and confidence. What a difference a day makes.

Thommo was an outstanding DJ timing the arrival to Moto to perfection. He might face stiff opposition from the returning Tuckett for the Welsh trip. The post Dorchester McDonalds – Exeter was the slowest on record with convoys and it seemed everything else under the sun. Confidence was restored they had been confronted by a very talented cricketer in Adam Rouse.

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