Devon Cricket Board - Horse bolts on first day

The side had left Exeter the previous morning to play the one day game at 9.45am and there was some real lethargy in the group. This was really frustrating but unsurprising when their programme was studied. The worst case was nine straight days cricket which would now be extended by another three days! It is hoped that a message had now been spelt out. There was a lack of understanding of why there is a need to have a personal programme in place and the necessity for rest away from the cricket field. It was overcast for the warm up and the verdict of the ground staff was to field first as the pitch was green. However disaster struck before the exchange of team sheets when keeper batsman Dan Powell complained of a bad back. There was only one decision to be made, despite Dan believing he could bat,and that was to get in an extra body. Under sixteen Josh Cann answered the call brilliantly and was somehow at the ground by eleven. By then Devon had been inserted and started a really disappointing batting performance. The pitch was not a problem, it did not misbehave throughout the game. Matt Skeemer and Harvey Sargent renewed their partnership and all seemed to be going to plan. They put on 36 in nearly eleven overs when Skeemer was caught behind off Redup. The third caught behind in succession over the two days play for the openers. The second wicket fell on the same score as twelve balls later an identical dismissal sent Dan Pyle to the pavilion. The captain joined his former club team mate and they advanced the score by 45 runs but four overs before lunch Sargent departed for the sides highest score. He had contributed forty-five of the 81 runs on the board. He was leg before to Harrison. Quickly it got worse as the captain fell bowled by Thomas for 16. He had batted for a minute under the hour. Dan Wolf then was out four balls before lunch. Reid Mawdsley and Toby Codd took their side to the interval perilously poised on 86-5 off thirty overs. Second over after lunch number eight Ollie Dawe was a the crease replacing Codd. The partnership that followed was the only bright spot of the day for Devon. Reid Mawdsley who has added some real maturity to his game over the winter and the Exmouth seamer put on fifty off only 45 balls. Dawe had shown his intent hitting his first ball way over the deep mid wicket rope with an impeccable shot. From 91-6 Devon advanced to 141 before Dawes attractive knock came to an end. He had hit two sixes and three fours. At lunch Devon were looking for some batsmen to score thirties Ollie nearly achieved this feat falling one sort. The pair had demonstrated what could be achieved, actually putting some pressure on the home side but alas it was all too late. Josh Cann fell on the same score being the second leg before candidate Dan Goodey and Mawdsley achieved the sides solitary batting point but two runs later Goodey was out. Ten were added for the last wicket with John Kerridge again demonstrating that he is not an eleven. He was bowled by Thomas to be the off spinners seventh victim with figures of 13.3-1-48-7. It would be fair to report that his opponents had assisted in these fine bowling figures. Mawdsley had batted beautifully being undefeated on 36 having batted seventy minutes, faced sixty-two balls of which three crossed the boundary. The tenth wicket fell at seventeen minutes to three providing Devon with two opportunities to put the home side under pressure, before and after tea. A huge early concerted spontaneous appeal for leg before was declined and the much needed breakthrough did not materialise. Somerset reached tea at 40-0 off thirteen overs. The home sides front and back pads were rapped on a number of occasions and two catches were not taken. Somerset lost their first wicket in the twentieth over with a score of 54 when at last an appeal was upheld as Bess had Harrison leg before. Devon took their second wicket in the thirty-seventh over when the under 16 pairing of Cann and Goodey combined to take another joint wicket. Stumps were drawn on time with Somerset just twenty-one runs behind with eight wickets in tack. The real concern was that left hander Underwood looked in total control of the situation. The team discussion was led by the players who got most things that had gone wrong right. Incredibly the Anchor had run out of steaks, one would have thought in view of the consumption the previous night they might have gone out for more supplies. The football proved that even host countries can have off days but Devon needed a major turnaround on the second day particularly in body language!

Wednesday provided the best weather of the three days in Taunton with the day starting slowly as Somerset set about obtaining full batting points. They received confirmation from Lords that they could bat all day if they wished so one wondered what was Plan A apart from get 300 quickly and roll Devon over. Devon were a much improved side despite an early miss in the slip cordon. Having had the best slippers in Devon's history for the past three years this was a second reality check. The need for a fit twelve man was reinforced as the day progressed as six complaints were reported and ultimately it was necessary for Dan Powell to make up the numbers in the field. However Devon kept at their task manfully. There had been a stiff breeze the previous day which had made it difficult for bowlers but this had increased second day to the much stronger natural element of wind. It actually took Somerset ten overs to secure their ten points with Goodey and Bess bowling well in tandem. Devon secured two wickets in this session. On 228 Dan Wolf held an excellent catch off Matt Skeemer at point to remove the outstanding Underwood, eight runs short of his personal three figures - Somerset 228-3. As the scorer had pointed out overnight the Cornwood all rounder had dismissed him in 2013. Next over the new ball was taken and within thirty two balls a fourth wicket fell. Second slip Skeemer held a smart catch off Dawe to revive hopes for the summers close to the wicket catching. Lunch was taken with Somerset three short of the third batting point and a minimum of sixty-seven overs left in the day. Devon prepared for a post lunch onslaught and a declaration when three hundred was reached. They bowled and fielded well and Skeemer took his second wicket when he bowled Preston. The home side did not seem in any great hurry as they picked up their final point in their one hundred and first over. The anticipated declaration did not happen which would reduce the number of overs Devon would have to bat. In fact the delayed declaration also assisted Devon in picking up a third bowling point as Wolf bowled MacGill and Cann held a smart catch standing up to the captain. The home side continued to bat and when 169 ahead declared. The visitors would have a minimum of 47 overs to avoid a possible rare outright. The game plan was agreed and to the credit of the top order was achieved. Skeemer was dominant in an opening partnership of 41 which took in tea, scoring thirty-eight. His partner Sargent was the perfect foil. Skeemer fell in the second over after the interval allowing the normally attacking Dan Pyle to demonstrate his defensive technique. The under 16 pairing occupied the crease for six minutes under an hour facing twenty-two overs when Pyle was caught. Devon were now 64-2 and entering the final hour of a minimum of seventeen overs. The arrival of the captain had a major impact on his sides innings. He went through the gears and with Harvey Sargent batted beautifully putting on an unbroken 108 off 105 balls and at the same time picking up two batting points. Devons Plan B was to pad up Ollie Dawe should a batting point be in danger. Devon finished three runs ahead. Both batsmen completed personal half centuries - the captain finished on 67 (11 fours and a six) and Sargent 52 off 150 balls and in the same number of minutes - an outstanding contribution. Although at one time it did look as if the Sidmouth opener would not reach a personal fifty as his captain took a single off the last ball of the penultimate over. Sargent was on 45. However he got back on stike, took a four to third man and ran a two to enable the under fifteen to raise his bat.

The senior players had been asked at the beginning of the day to ensure that they left having made some obvious progress, this they had most certainly achieved.
Scorecard