Devon Cricket Board - Hat trick of first innings victories

We deliberately stopped at the new Gloucester Services, much to the irritation of the squad as its eco philosophy did not fit in totally with the players snack culture. After a long a tiring journey up to Oldbury we soon set off to our first Harvester of the summer - The Foxhunt in Halesowen. There seemed general contentment although leaving the drinks order form at reception delayed matters somewhat as we started to prepare for our annual two day game against Staffordshire. We took breakfast at the Dudley Tesco Extra that most certainly has a larger square footage than Kingsbridge Fore Street. Breakfast was better received than our previous superstore in Worcestershire and it was raining heavily. An old Kingsbridge colt was also taking breakfast. The forecast for our three days kept changing but at no time was totally reassuring. Indeed all three days suffered some interference from rain. Staffordshire under seventeens were playing Lancashire later in the week in a two day semi final so were not at full strength nor were Devon due to hockey, expected and unexpected holidays. The min-bus then enjoyed a circular tour of a roundabout and a twenty-six minute drive took double the estimated time. Moist conditions delayed the start until 2.00pm and the sides tucked into their final Lasagne of the summer. Time would be made up on both days playing until seven and starting at 10.30am. The umpires worked hard to ensure our trip was worthwhile which was very much appreciated. Pyle again called correctly and inserted his hosts. Dan Goodey struck in the seventh over when Dan Wolf held another good catch. The second wicket pairing added sixty-five taking Staffordshire up to seventy-one. Toby Codd then bowled Raza for twenty-three. The batsman is currently involved with Derbyshire and did not appear the next day. He was replaced at the crease by the tall and talented Staffordshire captain Sandhu. Five balls later, on the same score the second opener Glanville was bowed by Petherbridge. He had contributed fifty percent of the runs on the board – thirty-six. Over the next twenty-two overs, which took in tea, Sandhu and John put on the second highest partnership of the innings – fifty-six. Charles Fitzroy held an important return catch to get rid of John. Seventeen was added for fifth wicket when Staffordshire then lost three wickets for the addition of one run off ten balls. Sam Maunder held a splendid catch off Goodey to remove the home side captain five short of a fifty, Fitzroy trapped Zaroof in front and Goodey took his third wicket bowling Pokors. Staffordshire three remaining wickets added forty-one runs. Keeper Hodson was Matt Petherbridge’s second bowled victim – 163-8. Toby Codd completed his twenty-fifth over, his sides seventy-sixth and was replaced by Harvey Sargent. The Sidmouth all-rounder then took the remaining two wickets in his sixteen balls. He bowled Rudge who had batted for four minutes under an hour for his six and had Slater leg before. Staffordshire were all out in their eightieth over having scored at 2.2 an over. Close of play was five past seven and Sargent and Codd faced eighteen balls scoring five runs. The Harvester was out of ½ split chickens and banoffee pots but replacements were deemed to be satisfactory.

The twenty-six minutes to the ground was more realistic on the second day as the volume of traffic had substantially reduced. The openers negotiated almost ninety-minutes facing another twenty-two overs and taking Devon up to sixty-four when Codd was bowled by T.Hodson. He had scored thirty-nine off sixty-eight balls. In the company of his captain Sargent added fifty-four when Dan Pyle was out twenty-four balls before lunch. Wolf was not out in this time hitting ten off his fourth, fifth and six balls. He made his point playing and Sargent two short of his fifty. He completed his second successive fifty against the Midland side on his third ball after the interval and Wolf was out on the fourth. They had put on twenty-six taking Devon up to within thirty-two runs of their opponents. Within ten balls Devon had lost their fifth wicket as on the same score – one forty-four Sargent was out for fifty-one, one less than in two thousand and thirteen. Wickets in clusters has been a theme discussed all summer and the message still not absorbed as Devon lost a third in the one forties. Wright was caught behind and Devon was still twenty-seven runs adrift. Will Thompson and West of England batsman Tom Lammonby scored the necessary runs putting on fort-two. Nine short of two hundred Thompson was caught behind. Charles Fitzroy and Lammonby added another sixty-two off sixty one balls and on the loss of Fitzroy Pyle gave the home side some batting practice. Lammonby had scored an unbeaten fifty-four off fifty-eight balls hitting six fours. Hid fifty came off fifty-four balls and he had demonstrated a great technique and temperament. Fitzroy had contributed twenty-three. Despite being August over the two the temperature at Wolverhampton had been in single figures mainly due to a biting wind. Devon bowled twenty-eight overs at their opponents taking three wickets two to Goodey and one to Codd with catches from the Keeper Maunder and Will Thompson. It was agreed to allow Glanville and the home captain to try and reach their fifties Glanville failed by three but Sandhu reached his. The game was called off with the final hour about to start and Devon would be on their way early to Coventry. Staffordshire, the umpires and Wolverhampton had all been exceptional in allowing such a full game to be played. The journey to the Stonebridge Island was virtually event free until we missed the actual turn off that resulted in an unplanned twenty-five minutes in/out drive into Coventry, The Carvery went down well and we had our first Eton Mess opportunity of the summer. The Ibis was old school but provided all that was needed and despite the skippers room being already occupied we were in good time and within a short distance of Binley Road.

Scorecard