The journey took longer that TOMTOM indicated, I did not understand the long blast from the artic but the sun was shining. Luke Tuckett, all is forgiven, as there was no room in the Inn for Huxtable and his Ipod so he ended up on the front bench - truly awful. We met the Thompson’s at the Michael Wood Services, we just cannot get away from them, they were off to celebrate their Silver in the Malvern Hills. Fortunately the Ashes were coming home and we changed over to hear the platitudes if not any wickets. We did get in the interviews and presentations. The Holiday Inn was fine but not a contender for an award this year – really hot even with a fan. The Guide Dog convention at least made two of the party at home. Fortunately we had not left Ryan Skinner at the services and we all left for the Union which was a reasonable choice, There had not been that much as most pubs in the area stopped serving after 4.30pm on a Sunday. The meal was enlightened by Defriend’s amusing report on the Ipplepen South Devon under 17 game that won them the title the previous week.  It was a bright start to the day although the captain had confided the night before he had no travel wear and this was just the start of two of his not most successful days. Within ten minutes Leamington turned out to be all it had been cracked up to be – we could not have been made more welcome over the two days at the ground. Warwickshire’s quick bowler was with the 19s and another was injured all was right with the world!

Zak Bess won the toss and batted and after 53 minutes at the crease he was back in the pavilion for a 32 ball six. With Tom Mitcham he had put on 33 off 15 overs. The key partnership of the innings took place as Mitcham and Brown took Devon up to lunch at 107-1 both were batting beautifully, both strong off the back foot and dealing with the unexpected low bounce exceptionally well. Six overs after lunch the first turning point of the match occurred. Hussey Mitcham called Ponting Brown for a very sharp single, good egg that he is Brown responded immediately only for Mitcham to have a change of heart and not move from his crease leaving the Exeter man high and dry. It did not take a Flintoff return to the bowlers end, a simple lob was sufficient and Brown was out by 11 yards. The game turned with this dismissal Devon were now 119-2 but soon 123-3 as Huxtable was caught after nine minutes, fifteen balls for 3. Grainger and Mitcham added 35 for the fourth wicket when Grainger again fell in the twenties – in the long term he needs to score more heavily. Tea was taken at 209-5 as Alex Hill (9) had fallen in the sixth-eighth over. One of the forecasted heavy showers, which had up until tea kindly kept away from the ground, enforced an extra hour’s play up until 7.00pm. Sam Defriend (14) helped Mitcham take the score up to 221 when Defriend, who did not look like a nobody at the crease, was unprofessionally run out backing up – another gift to the opposition. At least he was big enough to purchase new spikes and boots the next day! The seventh wicket was the big one. The new ball had been passed on to the umpires but not yet utilised when a tired Tom Mitcham played across a straight one to be leg before. Fortunately he had reached three figures, his first fifty off 126 balls, his hundred coming up off 250 balls. He had been at the crease for 86 overs and his 110 out of 230 was a major, indeed outstanding contribution. Tom Mitcham has really blossomed in 2009 and is one of the side’s heavyweights in a very strong top order.  Tea was taken three overs later. Connor Bryan was now undertaking his now very polished role of marshalling the tail, Eaves and Golding came and went taking the score up to 246. Enter Max Curtis, the discovery of the tour. He had been strongly recommended at Exmouth in early August for the wicket taking off spinners role but circumstances dictated that this North Devon first teamer would not be available to us until this week. He batted so maturely that with the exemplary Bryan Devon advanced to 273. Devon bravely declared with six overs remaining. Had this been a championship game we would have batted on for the final batting point and to try and kill the game. With the light really poor there was also the chance that Warwickshire would not have batted which would have made the decision pointless. It was anticipated that Devon would pick up a couple of wickets, to make the declaration the correct decision they had to pick up one. The light got brighter so that in fact the final few minutes were some of the best of the day. Devon attacked; three slips two gulleys but Warwickshire were 14-0 at close of play. Tom Allin joined us for the afternoon session and he was a most welcome, modest visitor. He was due at Walmley the next day to take on Derbyshire, old games were remembered and he was a joy.

Burgers replaced steaks, the side were optimistic, Villa beat Liverpool a reasonable day all round. The forecast was not so good but despite heavy rain in Solihull a full days play was achieved. It went well, although for the second succesive game Devon's attack was a bowler light with Connor Bryan resting his shins, Ryan Skinner nipped one back in the fourth over to trap the powerful Whittock. From 22-1 Warwickshire advanced to 70 off 26 overs with Bess setting 9-1 fields. By now spinners Golding and Curtis were in tandem and for the first time this year a major problem appeared to have been resolved. We have been seeking all summer a wicket taking off spinner so enter under 15 Max Curtis. He has been producing the goods for North Devon first team and now proceeded, with Golding's help to reduce Warwickshire to 111-5 at lunch. His first wicket was a stunning one handed (his left) caught and bowled to remove Klapper. 70-2, eight runs later he had the captain caught behind, he trapped Ali in front on 92 and then lured Harding to beat him in the flight to bowl him. An exceptional spell from a very promising prospect. After lunch we missed a vital catch as the eventual match winner Burton struck Golding to short mid wicket when with both hands above his head Mitcham missed it. He had been fielding all morning like an underground conveyer of waste water and this brought him down to earth. As Burton took his side within reach of victory as 92 were added with Payne, who played the ideal foil, facing 82 balls for his 17.  Golding did get his wicket – Payne at 195 with a catch from Hill. One run short of two hundred Burton was eventually removed for an outstanding 136 ball 73 when Mitcham caught him on the square leg boundary off a Huxtable long hop. Tea was taken at 217- 7 evenly poised. With the new ball due, the tactics were discussed, immediate pressure after tea was needed at both ends, the first over went for 9, the second 10, Bess bowled himself the third and took out Grundy with a good low catch at third slip by Brown, he only conceded one run but the next over went for ten so from 217-7 after four overs it was now 246-8 with just 28 needed with plenty of overs remaining – game over. Warwickshire passed their target in the 94^th over without further loss, Skinner took his second wicket in bowling the now charging Nandra, Bess caught Brown off Huxtable to leave the keeper Gately unbeaten on 50 – Warwickshire 292 all out. The spinners had bowled 42 overs taking 5- 111 – roll on 2010 we will have a spin attack. Although it is hoped that at his next service Curtis has an on/off switch fitted. Devon batted for 13 overs, Bess completed a less memorable day as Brown and Huxtable scored 83 before Huxtable was stumped for a 34 ball 43 leaving Brown undefeated on a 42 ball 39 as Devon declared 23 hours after they had done so the previous day. This was a game for learning lessons and Devon achieved much. They moved on to the famous Black Country of the Midlands. A totally different dialect but Barney had no trouble in understanding when he was being chatted up on entering the pub. Devon was taken back in time –sawdust and spittoons (well not quite!). A regular transpired to be the grand father of a Staffs under 15 as he entered into a long conversation and they would visit us on Thursday. They ran out of 16oz steaks but everybody was tired it was not the end of the world and they promised to do better the next day which they did...
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