Devon Cricket Board - DCBYA Under 14s Gwent Match Report 2014

“Excellent first day at the office - but room for improvement!”

The weather played its part in the lead up to the match as it rained hard in Tiverton and the grounds man had problems preparing the pitch and we ended up playing on Mayfield. Pre match preparation was not ideal, having to take the covers off, alter boundaries, find this and that but parents thankfully helped out and we got there and even though the pitch was slightly damp we decided to have a bat if we won the toss. Players’ estimates of the projected score were anything from 180 to 275 – we will see who is right! Given the lush outfield and previous stats Nick and I thought high 100s to 220 if Gwent bowled well. Start low lads say 180 and then you will achieve …

The warm up, where we set the tone for the day was okay, only okay; the pre match prep didn’t help but it could be a little more polished, better throwing etc - it will get better. Sam won the toss and we batted with the two Toms opening. As Gwent only had 10, one lad in the cinema, AB’s first County appearance was for Gwent!

5 off the first over, including the first of 25 wides, got us off to a good start, 4 off the second and then things slowed down slight before Willow played across a straight one, play straight in the V on a damp track, and was adjudged LBW. 10-1 off 5. Lammers is already struggling with a bad back! Enter Sam Maunder given the opportunity at 3. Without further alarm the score ticks along gently and after 10 overs we have 27 – perhaps if we had taken more singles? Okay it’s a slow outfield but given the bowling there are too many dot balls – we also hit fielders rather than into gaps or hitting short of fielders and then taking a run! On the side line there is lots of talk about smashing it- but it’s not that type of wicket lads, not until you are well in! Sam starts to take the singles and then a two to fine leg taking on the throw, then a super square drive 4. Lammers is all the time quietly accumulating and playing the occasional superb shot. Its drinks after 15 and it’s 56-1. Time to start thinking of pushing on lads, being a little more positive and it soon becomes 71 off 18. In the 20^th over Lammers gets to 50 but he is really struggling not with the bat but back pain. He will not retire but decides to be more positive; smashes a 6 and the score is suddenly 100 off 21 overs. 44 off 7 overs! With the partnership on 99 and Sam on 34 he gets one that dips and is bowled. Enter Ashley who takes a little time to get used to the pitch; make it easier for yourself by taking the singles and giving the batsman who is in the strike. The score continues to tick along to 148 -2 off 30 overs when we have the next drinks break with Lammers on 78. He is in pain but he is closing in on a century and we cannot retire him! On 87, yes 87 and he was born over here, he comes down the pitch the ball stops and sits up a little and on the walk he chips it to mid wicket, sad disappointing for a brave determined knock. Another excellent partnership 70 though in 11 overs. Kazi is next in. With the score on 188, Ash’s innings then comes to an end when he inside edges a ball onto his stumps- keep your shape. Mikey joins Kazi who immediately creams a straight 4 and the tempo changes. It’s not Kazi initially though but Mikey who plays some great powerful straight shots and the score starts to rocket along. They put on 61 in under 6 overs when Mikey miss times and is caught for 30. Kazi keeps the impetus going and with Jack takes the score from 256 in the 43 to 273-5 in the 45 over with Kazi 43 no. Yes a very good score, if not the highest score you as a team have scored but could it have been over 300? So what do Nick and I know, the lads were right about the score… or where they?

After a fantastic tea, wonderful scones (think we need bigger plates!) thank you Felicity and helpers, half the job is done and we must now finish it. However we want to make sure as many as possible get a bowl and certainly the new lads get an opportunity. Remember our bowling and fielding goals.

First ball Kazi’s hand hit stumps! No ball! Next over Matt pitches it up and beats the bat. Good first over. Kazi follows suit, bowls straight and he cleans up one of Gwent’s openers. If Matt bowls slightly straighter at the stumps and has a little luck, he will be next but it is not until the 8^th over, with lots of playing and missing that he takes the second wicket. Gwent 17-2 off 8. Make them play lads! Yabers replaces Kazi and straight away induces a false stroke and Sam ‘s quick hands do the rest. 23-3 off 11. All this time AB is diving and stopping everything in the covers and even parries one over the bar! Leon comes on. Drinks at 15 and Gwent are 27-3. Next goal we must bowl them out for less than 100 and we must bowl more than 15 overs an hour! AB comes on, is his field right; there is a half chance down at deep mid on; his length varies but the Gwent batters struggle with the spin but when too short and with no deep mid wicket score the odd 4. Yabers miserly spell comes to an end and Lathers gets his chance. Nervously we have a couple of wides and then he starts to get it together before he bowls Clarke who has quietly been showing some resistance. Next Lathers over after a couple more wides he has Thomas caught by Lammers. 70-5 off 25. Tom Williams, Willow, replaces AB in the 30^th over and third ball bowls Hancock; drinks Gwent 91-6. Yabers comes back on for Lathers and in the 34 and 35 overs first Willow, caught Lammers and then Yabers bowled, take wickets. 108-8 and Kazi and Parks come back on to finish things off and Parks continues where he started and bowls well and when he gets it straight bowls the numbers 10 and 11. Gwent 120 all out in the 43^rd over and Devon won by 153 runs.

Did we keep going in the field to the end, back up everywhere, run between overs ..? Did we bowl straight enough - 13 wides and the umps were generous..How many of our batting, bowling and fielding goals did we achieve? Read them familiarise yourself with them. Did you achieve your personal goal?

Thank you Blundells School, and Steve the groundsman for everything; John and David our umpires and Wendy and Derek for scoring; thank you Felicity and Andrew plus all the other parents and relatives for their support and help on the day and with the teas. A great start but there are tougher, much tougher, challenges ahead. Don’t get complacent; learn the lessons we discussed and let’s start putting them into practice, as a TEAM.….

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