Devon Cricket Board - 2013 U13 v Glos report

2013 U13 v Glos report

DEVON U13 v GLOUCESTERSHIRE U13

"Look out Liz, Devon have hit another big one!"

The squad travelled to Gloucestershire to its first game of the season against a First Class county. This was expected to be the first real test for the team. The management welcomed Trevor Griffin as coach for the day, and he provided an effective warm up routine, that the team will look to use for the rest of the season. The only disappointment was the lack of readiness of the side for the start of the game.

Sam Maunder won the toss again, and elected to bat on a wicket that looked green, but unlikely to change during the game.

Glos opened with a bowler, who the font of all knowledge Ash Causey remembered as "quick, but all over the place". He was certainly quick, and his control remarkably better this year. Tom Williams and Mikey Cooper batted cautiously, but sensibly, seeing off the threat from the new ball and punishing anything loose. The drinks break after 14 overs gave the opportunity to discuss plans for overs 15-28. It was decided to continue to run the singles, dispatch the bad ball and get the field pushed back; look to have wickets in hand for an all out assault in the last 12 overs. We wouldn't over attack, or lose wickets in pairs.

All went to plan until the score reached 75 when Mikey got caught at mid off trying to force the ball over the in field. 6 runs later Tom inexplicably decided to clear the mid wicket boundary, but failed to make contact. A very good start, but still a frustrated manager. Trevor's phrase of "Execute yourskills" came to mind.

Birthday boy Tom Lammonby joined Ash Causey at the crease, and they showed what mature cricketers they have become by working the ball around, and taking all the runs that were there, and some which did not appear to be. They set up the end of the innings with a partnership of 48 in 10 overs before Lammonby got an unwanted birthday present, a beauty of a ball from returning opening bowler Stone, for a run a ball 31. Sam Maunder (14) and Kazi Szymanski (7*) continued with Causey (26*) to achieve a final total of 170-4 from 40 overs. Overall a well paced innings on a track that was difficult to assess.

Again the management team were disappointed at the lack of urgency to get prepared for the second innings. Perhaps we need to be more dictatorial in our approach? We would much rather the players took the responsibility themselves.

Glos set themselves the the same target as Devon, wickets in hand for a late flourish. They started well, an opening stand of 23 before Szymanski broke through in the last over of his first spell. A wicket for Callum Worth in the first of his overs, slowed Glos. Jack Gibbs claimed an LBW, and at the halfway stage the home side were 78-3. The game delicately poised.

At this stage the manager owns up to being slightly distracted by the arrival of Shane Warne, along with a lady on his arm, who is also apparently a celebrity. They were there to discuss a charity game they were hosting the following week. It was a shame the boys were fielding, because it deprived Shane the opportunity to meet the legends that are Devon U13's. Only Kazi, resting after his bowling, had the opportunity to give Shane and Liz the benefit of his wisdom. The couple left shortly after wards!!!

Back at the cricket the crucial middle overs were being bossed by the always economical, and penetrating, Chris Yabsley. His return of 8-0-27-3 was a fair reflection of his efforts. This slowed Glos even further and they were always behind the clock, and eventually ended up 14 runs short when the overs ran out.

A good win, with a lot of our targets met, and some only just missed. This team is good enough to be continually challenged, so some of the criticism is tough. The two areas to look for improvement against Wales is in our preparation, and yet again in banishing Mr Wide from the squad!!

A first class county this week. A country next week!!

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