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

It was an interesting week building up to this match; I wasn’t quite sure if we had two umpires and Mikey was called up by Plymouth Argyle after the team had been selected. For once there were no worries about the weather and with our inside man, Graham Parker at Whimple I knew everything at the ground would be fine. The issue of the umpires was resolved but then young Joe text on the day to say he would be there but late- as it turned out 5 mins before we started! He was there which was a plus as I understand a couple of Devon youth matches did not have umpires or Devon umpires.

It was a very hot day - what a sunset the night before! On arrival everything was fantastic but some of the players had an air of exuberance which was then taken through into the warm up which was disappointing and didn’t bode well for the match. We had decided to bat but Sam lost the toss and Dorset asked us to field. Okay we would see how we faired and how we batted chasing.

In the first over, Kazi bowling, we have overthrows which was annoying or was it? Actually Gibbsy very nearly ran out their best batter as he only just missed the stumps and Leon did get a nasty kick from the ball having raced around to try and back up and so we were unlucky. Don’t stop taking these risks they are what can make a difference. Everyone must be alert from ball 1. Matt bowls a good first over but nothing much happens, we beat the bat regularly and their lefty plays the occasional shot including one great straight drive, he can bat! It is very hot and unusually it is quiet in the field. Yabbers has rotated off and the call is can we have him back on the field so our suggestion/ plan to get others on to bowl early and into the match has changed. Should Kazi have come off earlier? Lammers does come on and replaces Kazi and immediately bowls well but his body language shows his back is not right and he must come off. Yabbers comes onto replace Parks, who has been unlucky once more and guess what maiden as Dorset defend resolutely. Willow replaces Lammers. We soon arrive at drinks 41-0 off 15. Is the pitch indifferent or are Dorset being over cautious as there are plenty of dot balls and very few singles; our field placing are much improved and our fielding fairly sharp. It could still be better!

The drinks break does it and Willow has an opener caught by Kazi 43-1. Runs continue to come very slowly and in the 21^st over Willow gets his second wicket lbw 51-2. Incidentally it was not until the last ball of Yabbers 5^th over that Dorset scored a run off him - you are so boring Yabbers! Truman, Dorset’s best batsman lets the pressure get to him and in the 26^th over chips to Parks off Yabbers. 57-3 and only 19 overs to go! The new batters are more positive and Ash races around and stops a certain boundary. Yabbers then bowls Dorset’s captain 60-4 off 28. At drinks its 72 for 5 as Lammers coolly runs out Kerai. AB comes on but struggles with his length and Leon replaces Yabbers 9 overs 4 maidens 2 for 10! Lathers is off the field by now feeling the affects of two days cricket and the heat- rehydration in the shade required plus some food as he’s also hungry! AB’s second over sees his first County wicket as he bowls Jones through the gate, 90-6 off 33 but there has been an acceleration partly because Dorset have decided to have a go or was it because we did not bowl or field quiet as well and are our fielders, better fielders are not in the key positions? 11 captains on th field at all times guys. Think and don't be afraid to say something but not all at the same time though. Leon then bowls Booker 102-7 off 36. Its time for bowling changes and Kazi and Parks come back on. There is a possible sharp chance at point and Dorset's batsmen start to score runs in unorthodox areas; we should be thinking this might happen and protect the boundaries; we do which is excellent. Park's bad luck and great bowling continues and then he bowls a short one and it is gloved behind. Deliberate?121-8 off 40. Gibbsy then pulls off a great stop diving at backward point, his second piece of outstanding fielding. There are a few more hits but Kazi’s slow ball does for Ward caught Willow and Dorset end on 141-9 off their 45 overs. Could we have done anything differently; should Dorset have got over 100 or 100 -110 only? Probably yes and we will have to perform better, bowl better and field better in those late middle overs in future matches.

After a fantastic tea, thank you Felicity and the parents, half the job done and we must not muck this up; it will not be as easy as the players think as the pitch is a little too paced and the bounce erratic and the atmosphere is still a little too jovial.

Lammers and Ash will open; one of you be there at the end; Sam 3 although perhaps in hindsight he should have had a rest, Jamie 4, Kazi 5 and Gibbsy 6. The first ball a wide always a nice way to start then a bye and then 8 off the next over as Lammers pulls confidently, 4 then caresses a drive, 4. Ash gets off the mark with a two off a no ball and we are away, mainly putting away bad balls and the occasional lovely shot. We have 37 off 6 another great start, when Dorset introduce Mourgue their spinner and Ward medium pace the other end. Both bowl better lines and lengths and Ward gets the odd ball to lift and in the 10^th over Lammers unusually plays at a wide one which moves and is brilliantly caught in the slips off Ward. 52-1. Shortly afterwards Sam plays at another slightly wide delivery and is caught behind. All the time Ash is consolidating. Ash try and play with a straighter bat when the ball is on about leg stump, hit mid on rather than mid wicket and use your feet! 57-2 and enter Jamie Khan. He is relatively untroubled, the odd nervous loose shot and then he hits a nice straight 4. In the 17^th over Mourgue comes around the wicket to Khan and bowls him through the gate, 75-3. Kazis in, and it could go one of two ways. He hits 4 through mid off and anything short he hits hard but he keeps hitting the fielders. He then pushes 2 and then hits 4 through mid wicket. Ash is still quietly doing what he was asked, one of you bat through, with the occasional lovely shot and he brings up his second County fifty off a miss field. Kazi then smacks a slower ball for four and it thuds into the advertising hoardings- glad no one is in the way! The score by now is going along at 6-7 an over and in the 29^th over we reach our target with the loss of only 3 wickets.

A very comfortable win and very well done but as we discussed there are lots of lessons to be learnt, batting, bowling, fielding and how we approach the games, as there will be much bigger challenges to come. As I said our feedback is not intended to be negative but to help you to learn how to play the game and improve individually and as a Team. Nick and I know that it is frustrating and disappointing for some of you and yur parents that you have not really got into the matches so far. It was important we got the season off to a good start, which we have. We have made some significant changes to the way the side plays, pitches have been conducive to spin and we have 4 spinners and as I said in my initial letter we have to try and win as many of the ECB CC matches as we can so the side do not get put into division 2 next season. Also by the very nature of a game of cricket is is unusual for everyone in the side to get involved. Ever small contribution you make counts, such as great stops in the field, taking wickets runs scored. It is all part of being a successful team. There will be opportunities, take them, against some of the other opposition and at the Festival.

Thank you John and Joe for umpiring; Wendy for scoring and Derek for keeping the board ticking over. Thank you Whimple CC, Graham et al for hosting us, we would love to come back. Thank you Felicity and Andrew Maunder and the other parents for a magnificent tea and for your support.

I started this at 7.45AM and with interuptions it is now 11.40AM. Must write less...Somerset weather permitting in two weeks..

HOME Scorecard