After the down poor of Sunday afternoon the Monday matches were always going to be delayed, and a 12.45 start was suggested. After a hearty breakfast, very hearty in some cases, the morning was spent, with a game of football and then catching practice although it transpired more practice was needed- perhaps the right players in the right fielding positions would also help?

 

The toss, before lunch was won by Devon who asked Worcestershire to bat on a track, which had been covered and looked a little green. Jack Popham struck second ball, Ben Stein taking a straightforward catch at point well. Worcestershire fought back with Zac Turley punishing the bad ball, all too often the first ball of the over, as he put on 67 for the second wicket with Madley, who was missed off a sharp chance in the slips and a stumping. Jack Cherrington then had Turley well caught in the deep by Paul Heard, in the 25^th over and Cherry then caught and bowled Madley. Worcestershire 82-3 off 30 overs, an excellent effort by Devon although clearly also helped by the pitch. What was worrying however was that Devon were down to the last 15 overs and on past performances they might lose concentration and the plot! Ben Stein then bowled Smith and the signs looked good. Another catch went begging and then Mikey Cousens got struck on the foot and was helped off the pitch. Although Josh Mailling came back and bowled three Worcestershire players and Henry Thompson nipped in with two wickets, one a catch by Callum, somehow Worcestershire were allowed to get to 171-9, probably, no definitely, 20-30 more than they should have! Most frustrating and that is an under statement!
 

Worcestershire learnt from Devon’s bowling that the spinners were difficult to get away and opened with two of them but Callum Cload and Rhys Davies played sensibly, and with the odd scare on the way, usually Rhys trying to hit the ball over mid wicket, they put on 75 for the first wicket in 24 overs- yes a little slow but more or less up with the rate and plenty of wickets in hand. Following the drinks break, not sure what James and Sam said -oh yes they said Rhys try and play your natural game and pick up the rate, Callum keep going, but Callum is stumped and nine runs later Rhys is bowled! Laurence is stumped, or was it bowled, the score on 107 off 30 and there is still plenty of batting and no need to panic. Josh, in two minds, is yorked and Darty’s shot selection is in error mode. Now there is some concern-just a little and not just the parents! Mikey is there batting well but others are not supporting him, playing to orders, playing in the v and giving him the strike. Enter, Iceman, Paul Heard, a lad of few words but who had batted well against Hampshire and together with Mikey they take the score to 169 in the 43 over when "Paul O’ Heardy", as he is now known, is run out going for a quick single by a direct hit-was there any need for the run? With two full overs left and only three runs needed they should be only one winner-well you would have thought so! One run later Sam Loud is out, tamely caught and then Jack Cherrington who has been Mr Cool batting this season, chipped his first ball back to the bowler! Last over- two dot balls, a single to Jack Popham, then with two balls remaining the winning runs- what tension again. I am not sure the parents can take much more-they may have to- until the Devon lads really start to realise that they have improved so much and they can beat sides batting second-BELIEVE AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. Devon won by 2 wickets-just!

 

 

 

 

After a miserable Tuesday, no play due the weather and a day spent swimming, playing football and a light practice session in the evening, it was back to business on Wednesday playing Yorkshire, the 2008 under 13s National Champions on a newly cut strip cut on the top of the main square.
 

The pitch was very wet and winning the toss was felt important as it may skid through and dry out later as the weather improved. Devon batted and lost Callum Cload early who ran one off the face to the keeper. Rhys Davies, who has found his confidence since promoted to open continued his good form and together with Mikey Cousens they put on 153 for the second wicket in 32 overs. Rhys, playing at his school, was more selective than usual with his stroke making and out score Mikey who was happy play the supporting role. Early in his innings Rhys played a lovely back foot drive for four and hit two sixes on his way to 92 before being unluckily bowled off his pads. The lunch break did Devon no favours, the heavy roller made a definite difference to the pitch and the break affected concentration, although Mikey’s first ball four after lunch may have made you think otherwise! Rhys’ dismissal was quickly followed by Josh being caught, Laurence then sacrificed himself for the team and followed by Mikey edging a wide delivery just to the keeper. Pushing for runs after the collapse Paul Heard and Jack Dart perished for the cause which left Henry Thompson and Sam Loud to see out the overs and to get as many as possible, Loudy hitting the last ball of the innings for four. Devon 214-7 off 50 overs, frankly defendable if Devon bowled well and fielded exceptionally but in truth 25-30 runs short given the position they had been in.
 

Yorkshire, whose practice the previous evening was worth watching, started sensibly and with the score on 36 in the 7^th over Henry Thompson had Bethel well caught by Josh Mailling. Alex Hunt bowled well after chatting with James and Sam and looking to bowl within himself and pitch it up. After a mix up Rhodes was run out with the score on 63 in the 14^th over but Ward all this time was accumulating runs. In the 25th over, with 100 on the board, Sharrocks is LBW bowled Stein who once more bowled well. Enter MacNichol, Yorkshire’s wicket keeper, who along with Ward decided to up the run rate to at least 6 an over and take on the Devon bowlers. Ward was dropped on 70 but in hindsight I doubt it would have affected the result. Ward reached his century but was shortly caught by Jack Cherrington off Thompson. With 9 overs left Yorkshire knocked the runs off and comprehensively won by 6 wickets.  Disappointing.