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The Devon Cricket Board and Exeter University have forged a very strong relationship. The Board were therefore delighted to agree to provide their under nineteens as opposition to give the University side a competitive workout before the University start their MCC programme. This early season fixture was played at Exeter Cricket Club who pulled out all the stops to ensure the game was played and they were brilliant hosts. Barnie Huxtable won the toss and invited Exeter to bat. His opposite number, Joe Barrs, last game against the county had been in the MCCA play off at March Town last September. Under seventeen’s Paul Heard and Jack Popham opened the bowling and restricted Devon’s own Zac Bess and Webb to nineteen off their eight overs. Matt Kidd and Craig Eaves took over to keep the stranglehold on with left arm seamer Eaves trapping Webb leg before with his fifth ball in a wicket maiden over. After twenty overs the University were scoring at 2.2. Playing only his second game in Devon colours Sandford's Ryan Glass had his first bowl of the season and was bowling in the company of Paignton’s George Yates, who has hopefully put behind him his nightmare summer of 2011. It was pleasing that he was looking back to his best both in the field and whilst bowling. Seventy were added by Bess and the impressive keeper batsman Laidman. The second wicket fell in the thirtieth over with Eaves catching a skier off Harry Booker to send back Zac Bess. Matthew Golding joined the attack in the thirty-first over and revived memories of his earlier very successful bowling career. He has recently suffered from back trouble but most reassuringly looked back to his best. In tandem with Booker the spinners turned the screw with the University scoring just eighteen runs over the ten overs up to the fortieth. Wickets were taken in the thirty-sixth over, another wicket maiden, when Booker trapped Curtis leg before and the Braunton bowler took his third wicket in the fortieth when Lawler was bowled. In the final ten overs of their innings Exeter scored at just over fives losing top scorer Laidman run out by a direct hit from Golding. Laidman had importantly contributed sixty-three of the 146 on the board. Kidd took the final wicket of the innings caught behind by Davies to remove the captain for 1. Edwards was unbeaten on 28. This had been a generally proficient bowling and fielding performance although a number of chances were not taken. It is anticipated, later in the summer, they will be! Harry Booker took 3-32 off his ten overs. Twelve extras were conceded, not a single no ball and only eight wides. Huxtable handled his side well and it was good to see so many supporters of Devon Youth Cricket at the ground including Bath’s winger Alex Brown, Max Curtis and the Mitcham family, sadly minus Tom.
Exeter’s excellent spread dealt with any hunger issues and the strange story of the Boat Race was relayed and indeed watched! Devon’s target was 161, a rate of just over 3 albeit in typical April conditions. Indeed a couple of showers were experienced but no time was lost. Booker and Josh Mailling opened and the Plympton all-rounder did not have his most auspicious of games. Although his ground fielding was up to scratch he did not bowl, he missed out on an over the shoulder catch and was bowled fourth ball by Barton. He has a vital role to play this summer and has looked very good in Devon’s new winter performance programme. The captain lasted twenty-nine balls but was Barton’s second victim caught behind. After fifty-nine balls Devon were 20-2. Matthew Golding, who has been the Under 17s batsman of the year for the last two summers, continued his exceptional consistency in putting on forty-nine with Booker for the third wicket. The last time the pair had batted together they had put on 114 against Worcestershire at Exmouth. Curtis gained the third leg before of the innings to end Bookers innings. He had faced sixty-eight balls for his important 23. Golding had scored two runs more and he entered his sides highest partnership of the innings putting on 52 with Connor Bryan. Golding contributed thirty-nine to take him past his first fifty of the summer. In 2012 he will be an invaluable acquisition for Bradninch in the premier league. Bryan's contribution although smaller was equally important as Devon were now 121-4 off 34 overs. The Cambridgeshire seamer Barrs bowled Bryan. Last weeks Lions top scorer, Rhys Davis, lasted three balls for his two. Golding fell with his side twenty-one runs light when Barrs gained the fourth and final leg before of the day. Craig Eaves and Ryan Glass took a liking to third man as they played well off the back foot to take Devon home with thirty-eight balls to spare. It is hoped we had completed our brief and provided the University with some competitive cricket. The occasion had been very worth while in getting a number of nineteens together for the first time since last summer and of benefit to clubs in giving their players an early game outside. Devon’s coach, Matt Wood, who has a very busy summer in front of him with three sides, has not had a weekend off since Christmas sped up the motorway for a much deserved family break in Spain. He will have been pleased at the manner the seventeens performed after the winter programme and the keen competition for places. The County Club’s observer corps was present in the form of their coach and it is anticipated that some more names will be added to an already substantial list of players for consideration for the Lions and the full county side. |
