For a number of years the weather has intervened stopping the Devon Under 19s travelling to play Cornwall’s Development squad. Not 2013 a perfect summers day as the squad travelled to Callington for the first time since 2001 when James Toms scored 91 in a match winning partnership with Nat Price for the seventeen’s. Devon were taking on a mature Cornwall side and on winning the toss Josh Mailling decided to bat. He lost Ryan Rickard after two minutes when he was caught by May off Sharpe. Rhys Davies, who has made such an impact in the full county side, joined Mailling and they put on 36 when Davies was leg before. Mailling was in his best form and confirmed his talent. With Sam Wyatt-Haines the score was taken up to 66 when Wyatt-Haines played a most untypical shot and was caught. Mailling was now past his own danger area and past his fifty in the best partnership of the innings with Powell. Mailling contributed thirty-one of the forty. The captain was out at the half-way stage with the score six past the hundred with much work still be to done. Powell and Searle took Devon up to Nelson when Powell was Cornwallis fourth catch of the innings. Reid Mawdsley entered in very determined mode, putting on sixteen. At 127-6 were in some difficulty. Fortunately Matt Skeemer and Reid Mawdsley put on 38 and Mawdsley and Hallam Kerton another important 39. Both fell in the twenties trying to accelerate. It was left to the North Devon duo Jack Popham and Paul Heard put on a vital last wicket partnership of 21 including eleven off the last over. Devon’s total was considered below par and an enormous effort would be needed to defend it.

  It was good to see Ted Ashman at the ground, now making good progress following his heart attack at SKY Sports had enabled Devon to watch the last wicket partnership of the Australians in the first test at Trent Bridge which brought back some memories of last year’s under 17s game at Taunton. Cornwall openers put on 58 and seemed to be cruising but Paul Heard took his first important wicket bowling Cornwallis first team keeper Williams. Heard was in one of his best ever county spells taking out Purchase and Cocking to leave the home side on 85 after 27 overs as he and Jamie Stephens pegged Cornwall back. Another partnership of 58 was put on by Turpin and Smith as Cornwall reached 143. Devon took their first four wickets off either the penultimate or final ball of an over and Davies stumped Turpin off Davies final ball of his last over. Devon were not taking their chances and this unsurprisingly was putting them under more pressure. May and Smith added 26 when Rickard took his first wicket. The slow left armer Rickard was playing a vital role and his figures of 2-26 off eight played a vital part in the win. Skeemer who had dropped one earlier held on to Smith. Cornwall now needed 41 runs off 49 balls with five wickets remaining. Devon appeared to be out of it but Devon had other ideas as they eased themselves back into the game. Rickard bowled Lombard, Heard took his fourth and fifth wickets bowling Ridd and Kerton held top scorer Smith at long off. Sharp was bowled by Searle in the last over from which Cornwall needed to score thirteen The final pair failed by three in an absorbing game of cricket.