Devon Cricket Board - DCBYA Under 14s Gwent Match Report 2009

DCBYA Under 14s Gwent Match Report 2009

Another early start and it turns out an easy drive to South Wales, with the weather forecast threatening showers. On the way we hear the sad news of a 70 year old Swansea umpire who was hit on the head by a cricket ball being thrown from the boundary who had subsequently died. Very sad - we must remember him.

Pontir CC is just beyond Caerleon. James organised his warm up, but there is that air of “still on the coach” after a long journey on a Sunday morning. Call them in and have words - its better but still not right. The players are worried about the outfield, needlessly-“control the controllables”-get low and watch the ball all the way into your hands! Wake up! We win the toss and on a damp track, used the day before, after a discussion to say no we bowl, we put Gwent in! Right decision-cross fingers. Phew - yes right decision.

Did we bowl in the right areas, did we use the pitch, which mis-behaved one end particularly, did we bowl at the stumps, did we initially, in the first few overs with the new ball, attack and then go more defensive, slips and gulleys, did we? Well Henry asked to open for the first time, in his new boots, did bowl well, but whilst Gwent didn’t score freely there were just too many extras and balls that didn’t need to be played. Edges were found that lopped over fielders or went where fielders perhaps should be and.. It wasn’t until the 16^th over that Josh had Downing LBW and then Sam had Pheasant fortuitously caught by Cherry, that wickets started to fall. Sam did have other chances go begging and then Jack took 3 wickets in a good spell of slow left arm bowling helped by the pitch, ending with 3-22 off his 9 overs. Alex retuned to get two wickets, there was a run out, after a mix up in Gwents' efforts to score runs and Paul also took a wicket. The awareness, fielding, and bowling was not up to our recent standards and in truth for the second match running we let a side off the hook. We should have bowled Gwent out for less than 100 on that pitch and at the very most; I know I am harsh, 125. We must learn lessons, quickly, from these matches otherwise when it matters it will cost us dearly. You have shown how you can perform now on more than one occasion. It needs to be for the whole 45 overs not just 30 or in fits and starts.

Rhys opened with Callum, who looked more assured and the score ticked along nicely. Callum then did everything he could to get out and eventually did chip to short mid wicket who had altered his position twice to be in the right postion to take the catch. Good thinking! Mikey joined Rhys who by now was more relaxed and enjoying himself. For the first time we saw the Rhys we have all heard about and he played some superb shots. The score raced a long as did Rhys’ own score, Mikey content on playing the supporting role. Unusually Mikey then misjudged a single and poor Rhys was run out- a stand of 62 in 7 overs taking the match away from Gwent. We were surprised not to hear any noise form the changing room. Laurence then joined Mikey and the score slowed and we consolidated our position as there was absolutely no reason to panic, as it was only 2 an over. All the time it was getting darker and then lightening. In view of the death of a young cricketer in Birmingham a fortnight ago I felt it was only right that the players come off. The umpires felt there was no need for the covers as and I quote “ the field will be under water in 15 minutes”. Actually it was 10. We drove through sewerage on the way back to the M4 and thank goodness we were not going west. Home by 8.30PM

Thank you to the Umpires and our hosts in Gwent. Thank you to our parents for travelling and Mr Cherrington and May for, as usual, scoring. We sold half our ticket allocation for the T20- that is a good result too. Thank you on behalf of the DCBYA. The new indoor centre is fantastic; roll on the winter coaching.

A Hunt	4	0	15	2
H Thompson	8	1	26	0
P Heard	6	2	18	1
J Mailling	9	3	22	3
J Cherrington	9	3	22	3
S Loud	5	0	22	1
M Cousens	5	0	14	0

C Cload	Caught	12
R Davies	Run Out	46
M Cousens	Not out	20
L May	Not Out	5

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