It was an overcast welcome to the second day with showers of various intensity the forecast. Warm ups were commenced with Devon mainly concentrating on a day chasing down three hundred when it started to drizzle. The covers were replaced and large sheets laid out. The ground team could not have been more helpful and an early lunch taken. It was apparent the groundsman had access to some sophisticated equipment as shortly after lunch (fish in batter), in still dim light the umpires advised everyone that it was their intention to start play at two or as close as possible. The groundsmen had worked tirelessly mopping and brushing and could have not done more if this had been a first class fixture. We were exceptionally fortunate to get in any play however short. The radar still showed potential showers later in the day. Remarkably there was no further interference and Devon was given the chance of chasing down three hundred and two more runs in a minimum of eighty-nine overs. In fact Devon only needed another seventy overs. Toby Codd who had provided much needed confidence the previous evening was the first out - caught again. The openers had batted another seven overs taking their partnership up to forty-three. Amphlett was the new ball bowler having been drafted in but it was Bellamy who removed the Abbots all-rounder. Tom Lammonby was next out with the score on seventy-four. He had contributed forty six percent of the runs scored. This had been an ideal opportunity to look at Devon’s latest regional player. The captain who had not been demonstrating his recent fluency was joined by Dan Wolf off on holiday the next day. The captain’s contribution ended at four minutes past three with Devon drifting at nineteen runs short of three figures but now three down. The whole impetus of the innings changed over the next ten overs as William Thompson’s positive intent and Wolfs natural approach put on sixty runs in just over half an hour. This was a vital phase of the game but not without some alarms, the Heathcoat batsman could have gone early but rode his luck or perhaps more to the point succeeded with some sweet timing. He was out for a twenty-seven ball thirty-two which included five fours and a six. Next in was one of the under fourteens major batting talents Kasi Szymanski but unfortunately on his debut did not get off the mark. On his ninth ball he was leg before. This was a set back and Devon were now one hundred and fifty-nine with half their side out. Dan Wolf was playing his best innings at this level driving well and was now nine short of a fifty. Josh Cann and Wolf had around six overs to face in around forty minutes play. It was fortunate that the home sides over rate was not putting Devon under additional pressure as it was slow. Wolf reached his personal fifty and added another eighteen whilst the Feniton batsman obeyed instructions to the letter and batted for tea. Unfortunately with the proposed post tea game plan formulated in the head Wolf was out with four balls to go before the interval. He had batted beautifully but still received the wrath after close of play. He was tamely caught and bowled with a century easily in his sights. He had faced only seventy-seven balls hitting thirteen beautiful fours. Dan had set his side up but would not be around to complete the coup de grăce. The remaining batters and captain agreed a now somewhat changed game plan. Unusually the plan was completed to near perfection! The not out batsman Josh Cann and Charles Fitzroy took their time and then suddenly in the fiftieth over of the innings Cann hit four majestic cover drives all crossing the rope at speed. Apart from a period when Cann was on forty-nine he and Fitzroy batted brilliantly dominating their opponents in a partnership of one hundred and eighteen off one hundred and seventy-two balls in sixteen minutes over an hour. This was a really exceptional contribution from the two batters. Although this was forty-five runs short of the highest seventh wicket partnership. It was undoubtedly a match winning one. This was only the third century partnership for the seventh wicket and now the second best! They took Devon up to ten runs of a win which might prove to be the highest run chase by the sixteens – research needed before the Greenbook is published. It was not all plain sailing. First Cann’s memorable innings came to a conclusion. He had contributed seventy-eight off one hundred and fifteen balls and played an almost perfect two day innings. He set the hearts ticking when on forty-nine he flirted with disaster but quickly overcame the situation typified by his straight six into the railway line. In addition to his six he hit twelve fours. We could just cope with his demise but did not appreciate Fitzroy getting out. Initially he had been the ideal foil but he took an increasingly important part eventually scoring thirty-eight off eighty-seven balls with seven fours. He and fellow Blundellion Sam Maunder took Devon within three runs when Fitzroy was out, much to his obvious annoyance. As in the previous game it was the unflappable Maunder who contributed the final runs. The captain tried immediately to declare but did not get a response; Maunder then gave the bowler the charge to be stumped by perhaps half a pitch fortunately this time the batsmen responded to the call and it transpired that the ball that had dismissed the keeper had been a no ball!

 This had been an outstanding performance and an opportunity of explaining areas where we must improve was taken. Jonathan Mears had played a very important part standing in for Matt Cooke who had followed our progress on TCS. We were very grateful to the host club who pulled out all the stops to get the game completed. It was a long journey home but all should have been completely satisfied by this performance – particularly the fourteens. Josh Cann had been whisked off to a family gathering at Stratford and sadly and unexpectedly would not be seen again in 2014.
Scorecard