Devon Cricket Board - DCBYA U14s 2015 Wiltshire Match Report

Wiltshire Torquay CC Tuesday 4^th August 2015

At last that little bit of good fortunate to take us over the line - it was nerve racking though - you only had to watch the parents to see!

It rained on the drive to Torquay and we had some light rain before the match started but it cleared away and was quite nice by this summer’s standards! The ground was green and the square, we were in the middle has started to look like it used too. The Kingskerswell traffic issues were not an issue and after a good warm up we started 5 minutes early. The team wanted to bat but we lost the toss and Wiltshire decided to bat. There was a gusty wind blowing in form the Bay end which made it difficult.

Kers opened with a maiden and Gregers a 3 and the Wiltshire openers took their time and got used to the pitch. After 8 overs they had 20 on the new scoreboard and next over, and with his last ball of his spell Kers had Smith caught behind. Jeffers replaced Gregers and struggled into the wind, as to be honest Gregers did too, and so to take pace off the ball the spinners came on. Deggy and Carps bowled in tandem but the batsmen were no overly troubled. At drinks 15 overs it was 50-1. We need more intensity lads! Lets step it up and get through the overs.. Overs ticked by and Bull and Clarke put the bad ball away when in the 25^th over Elliott replaced Deggy with the score on 86-1. He bowled with control and Jonty came on the other end to offer something different. In the over before drinks Jonty got the break through Deggy taking the catch, Bull out for 30. 99-2 and Wiltshire had a great platform. The instructions were this time up the intensity again and put pressure on Wiltshire and two overs later Jonty has Clarke stumped for 47, by varying his flight and pace, good thinking Jonty. Two new batsmen at the crease, we couldn’t ask for more. Elliott , the “Ice Man” Adams still with his injury is bowling well and he then gets his reward, caught Carps, 112-4. That becomes 116-5 when Kers runs out Walker. It’s amazing what dot balls and pressure can do! Jonty in the 38^th over then has Ojomoh caught by Max 123-6. Might we restrict them to less than 150? Too much wishful thinking, me thinks and there is a small partnership before Deggy on for Elliott gets Wade out caught Els. 144-7. Jonty then takes two more wickets, a "five for" (34-5 and it was 18-3 before his last over), the first of the season and well deserved as he has bowled his chinemen with alot of thought, and Max then runs out Draper and Wiltshire are all out 165 in the 43^rd over. It could have been us batting!

A great performance lads as at one stage you were looking like chasing 200 plus. We still need however to bowl with a little more control, cut out the 4 balls and wides and why oh why at this stage of the season does it take a nudge (that’s a polite way of saying it!) from Nick to get you to field with more energy?

Tea, then we need to knuckle down, bat sensibly and get the runs; just under 4 an over, keep the score ticking over, singles, so rotate the strike, put the bad ball away - they will bowl them, all the same things I have mentioned in my previous reports…. but they are only 13/14!!

Max is run out in the second over, disaster, who called or did not call? Jonty joins Deggy and looks untroubled. He then hits one firmly to cover and sets off Deggy says no and Jonty is run out. Even bigger disaster and I have to go for a walk! I don’t think I can print what I was thinking!! 7-2 in the 5^th over. Dobs joins Deggy and due to the circumstances, the pressure I guess, they forget to take singles and rotate the strike and before we know it is drinks at 15 overs and we are 25-2! It is suggested that they are a little more positive, which they are immediately but in the 18^th Dobs doesn’t play with a straight bat, skies one and is caught 39-3. Tayls with Deggy take it to 65 in the 24^th over when Deggy hits a full toss I think, I was in the changing room at the time, to cover. Talys and Saps who has been feeling off weather, get us to 85 when Talys head and weight to off spoons it to mid wicket. Byron and Saps take us to 102 in the 34rd over when Saps is run out. On 134 in the 38^th, we are getting there as Byron is hitting the ball and showing his early season form, Gregers goes back to a spinner when he should have been forward and is bowled. Carps joins Byron and Carps plays the dominant role hitting boundaries and I must say good to see straighter too and we are on 164 and nearly there. There is a definite sense of relief on the balcony but cricket is a funny old thing and Byron plays at a wide one, he says hits the ground and is given out caught behind. 164-8. Next ball, feeling huge pressure, Jeffers is bowled, 164-9. Enter the “Ice Man” - 15 balls left. The Wiltshire fielders come in and we have some nervous moments but Carps wins the match with a straight drive with 6 balls remaining. Brilliant! Well done South Devon and Carps. Jubilation at last. Note to self- we must let the players off the field to take the applause of the spectators..

Thank you Steve and Chris our umpires; Ken et al at Torquay CC for their usual great hospitality and the Grounds man for all his hard work and putting us on the middle of the square. Wendy and Derek, I hope you enjoyed 39 Steps and the parents and relatives for your support. Gosh we have won a match, we nearly contrived to loose. I can’t take much more of this!!

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