What appeared Comprehensive turned into a Five wicket win.

  The rain started on the trip from the abandoned game at Axminster just past Tiverton. Braunton was wet and a call, surprisingly optimistic, was received from North Devon Cricket Club. An update email was sent to Somerset advising them to travel the next morning. It rained during a convivial meal at a remote pub and pictures of Barnie Huxtable’s exploits at under 21s were viewed in the North Devon Gazette It rained overnight but somehow against all odds North Devon Cricket Club put on the fixture. They had been there since dawn, Andrew Cameron’s radar was in direct contact with the met office and the square well covered. The players were pulling up the site screens and putting them in place and old acquaintance Tom Wright was coach to the Somerset side. The injured Max Curtis turned up with the latest prognosis and a neat little sling. He received genuine sympathy from all. The game was to be played on the same track that North Devon would play an important Premier League match the next day.

 Craig Eaves decided to give Somerset first use of the track and Passi Mawalage held a neat slip catch to remove Easton off Craig Overton. Rouse was bowled by Yates at 46 and four runs later under 15s Cousens and Davies combined to run out Smith. Jenkins, who was to bat well against the 17s the following week added 31 with Barrett as Somerset passed the hundred in the thirty-fourth over. The home twins removed Jenkins caught Craig. Hayes batted 48 balls for six when Craig held another good catch off West Buckland colleague Harry Booker. The sixth wicket fell at 108 (37 overs) when Jamie Overton caught Barrett off Steward for a 59 ball 32. The final three wickets put on 34 runs off 79 balls as Devon failed to take the final wicket. Marsh was caught Eaves bowled Pavi and Vicary was caught Golding bowled Craig Overton. The catch being caught by Michael Overton, whose photographs have proved to be a great success with players and management alike.

 A splendid lunch was served by Helen Overton and Teresa Curtis with a one handed waiter in attendance. Cousens and Abbott gave their side the ideal start scoring 118 off 132 balls in 85 minutes. There seemed to be no potential problems and yet what at one time looked a comprehensive win suddenly became difficult. Abbott scored a county best 35 when Blake caught him off Easton. Enter now spinner Vicary and the whole complexion of the game changes as he takes four cheap wickets. Craig Overton caught Blake, Golding leg before first ball, Jamie Overton bowled 0, big bang on the foot, limps off with no support. Rhys Davies strikes a four and then is caught by Rouse. Cousens was watching this debacle undefeated on 87 in a splendid innings. The captain helped put on the three runs needed but ended up on one not out despite his sweep crossing the boundary but having crossed with his partner. Cousens had shown all the necessary attributes in a batsman despatching the bad ball to the boundary. He had batted two minutes under two hours and faced 86 balls for his 89.

 It had been good to meet up with both Neil Bettis, still Devon’s most successful under 16 batsman, and Tom Wright. There was some relief on Sunday morning on checking the Saturday results to see that North Devon had picked up another win with a century from Craig Overton. The club could not have been more co-operative and hopefully will be able to fit in a two day under 17 game in 2011.