OWEN GANNON, JACK LOCKWOOD, HARVEY SARGENT, NOAH WRIGHT, KAZI SZYMANSKI, JOE HAGAN-BURT, BEN PHILLIPS

MATTHEW PETHERBRIDGE, WILL CHRISTOPHERS, ALEX HANNAM, BILLY RUDOLPH, HARRY WARD, BILLY REED, FINLEY MARKS

Devon began their 13th development tour to South Africa in Kruger where they were greeted by high temperatures, a sharp contrast to the thoroughly saturated weather they had left behind in the UK.

As ever the contrast in weather and pitches together with encountering talented and competitive opponents (who of course were in mid season) presented the tourists with the usual stiff challenge.

The first game in Skukuza, a two day game against Nelspruit provided an ideal start to the tour. Adjusting well to the hot and humid conditions there was a possibility of beginning the tour with a win, but a good batting surface and some determined batting meant that Devon were unable to take the number of wickets required.

The second fixture against a much older academy side from south  of Johannesburg was a particularly demanding contest. The additional power of the Vereeniging batting proving decisive in setting a target which always looked out of reach despite a flat and easy paced batting surface.

Two fixtures against development sides in Cape Town indicated the enormous efforts being made to attract young black players to cricket . Having played against development sides from Western Province over several years we were well aware of the improvements being made in the quality of players from the township areas. This was confirmed by some impressive batting and bowling performances by enthusiastic opponents which,backed up by some some athletic and competitive  fielding,proved decisive in the development side gaining a comfortable win. Thankfully A much improved performance by Devon players against a development side from Boland, played at the impressive Western Province CC ground resulted in an emphatic win by 170 runs.

As ever the matches against Western Province sides tested the credentials of our young players. Encouraging to report that while we were well beaten by a strong and impressive WP U15 side the players responded exceedingly well by winning the final game of the tour , a  two day game against a WP U14 side, the first time we have managed to achieve this.

From a cricket point of view the tour provided everything we could hope for,The players  clearly listened to the advice available, worked hard throughout and finished looking a much better outfit than the one which arrived in South Africa just two weeks earlier. Short tours tend to exaggerate failure and it to their credit they listened to the advice available, became a more cohesive unit and, without exception, worked hard to maximise their potential.

Captaining a cricket team is demanding at the best of times, even more so when faced with capable opposition in unfamiliar conditions. Billy Rudolph, a quick learner who absorbed ideas quickly, was an effective leader who enjoyed the support of the whole squad.

Of course not all the benefits which the tour provides can be captured by simple playing statistics. The experience of visiting such a wonderful country as part of a county side provides a rich opportunity for the players, which they appeared to take full advantage of. Many of the things they saw will remain with them long into the future. Our relations with good friends in Cape Town and Kruger ensure that they achieve an insight into aspects of life not achievable through a normal family holiday.

Grateful thanks to all the staff who worked so hard to  make the tour such a success and, most importantly, to the players who conducted themselves with credit both on and off the field.

Alan Swift

Team Manager

9^TH & 10^TH FEB AT SKUKUZA CC (2 DAY FORMAT)

DEVON 134 (J LOCKWOOD 30) AND 189-9 DEC (J HAGAN-BURT 71)

NELSPRUIT 192 (O REED 4-31) & 98-3

MATH DRAWN

12^TH FEB AT SKUKUZA CC

VEREENIGING GYMNASIUM 244-8 (J HAGAN-BURT 3-36)

DEVON 199-9 (O GANNON 41, N WRIGHT 38, B PHILLIPS 37)

VA WON BY 45 RUNS.                                                                                                      

14^TH FEB AT BERGVLIET HIGH

WESTERN PRIOVINCE  DEV XI 182-7

DEVON 107

WP DEV XI WON BY 75 RUNS

16^TH FEB AT WPCC

DEVON 259-5 (H SARGENT 104)

BOLAND DEV XI 69 (M PETHERBRIDGE 4-7)

DEVON WON BY 190 RUNS

18^TH & 19^TH FEB AT VINEYARD OVAL (2 DAY FORMAT)

DEVON 286 DEC (H SARGENT 135) & 182-6 DEC K SZYMANSKI 45,

J LOCKWOOD 44)

WESTERN PROVINCE U14S 202-6 DEC & 203 (B RUDOLPH 3-14,

M PETHERBRIDGE 3-58)

DEVON WON BY 63 RUNS

20^TH FEB AT BELVILLE CC

WESTERN PROVINCE U15 244-4

DEVON 106 (K SZYMANSKI 28*)

WP U15 WON BY 138 RUNS

STATISTICS