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For the second successive year the fixture at Exmouth ended with some animosity again not created by the players. Somerset called correctly and inserted Devon. The stand-in captain, Matt Thompson, and the under 16 captain, Zak Bess, opened. Bess after his successful second innings at Totton and early good performances for the sixteens was now the first choice opener for the rest of the summer. It was slow progress, as they put on 30 in twenty-three overs ten of which were maidens, in typical 2009 bowler friendly conditions. However all the good work was undone in the space of ten balls as Thompson (90 balls, 62 minutes) was bowled for twelve. Alex Brown was then bowled fourth ball off the first ball of the returning Meshede, whose first six overs had cost him just six runs. This was a rare failure by Brown in a summer when he impressed both with the bat and in the field. It subsequently deteriorated further as five runs later Huxtable, who scored three of them, was caught. Thirty overs had produced thirty-five runs for the loss of three quality batters. Under 16 batsman of the year, Tom Mitcham, then nearly doubled the score with his age group captain, Zak Bess, who was playing his role superbly. However with the score now on 68 Mitcham was caught for 13. Devon was now rebuilding as Bess and Gater put on 50 off just 52 balls. This was pretty impressive particularly as Gater was really under the weather. He had resisted the opportunity of returning home but had his own personal paramedic available to whisk him off. Bess’s long vigil came to an end one short of what would have been a deserved maiden under 17 half century. He had batted ten minutes short of three hours. He faced 150 balls hitting seven fours and demonstrated what a versatile cricketer he has become. Under 14s captain Michael Cousens was next in, he had made a huge impact on his under 16 debut and repeated the exercise at this level. With Will Gater the pair added 79 vital runs off just 81 delivers taking Devon to some form of respectability three runs short of the second batting point. It was an outstanding performance from them both. Gater was visibly wilting and his medical advisor was warming up the car. He eventually fell after 84 minutes at the crease, facing just 64 balls and hitting seven fours and five sixes in a Lazarus performance in scoring a match saving 79. He was immediately rushed home by a concerned mother not to return the next day. The loss of his and the captain’s bowling the next day might have been critical if the weather had not intervened. Much credit must also go to Cousens who is one of the most mature and promising cricketers produced for a long time. Despite a lack of necessary wearing apparel that restricted his running, this was a monumental contribution. It did not end with the loss of his senior partner and the early demise of Luke Tuckett. Tuckett, who had fought his way back into the side, is usually the man for the crisis but this time did not play straight and was leg before for a first ball duck. The well used cricketing expression is “add on two wickets” so this was a prime example, 197- 5 had suddenly become a much more problematic 197-7 as Rouse wreaked havoc in the sixtieth over. The eight wicket pairing secured the second batting point but was broken at 214 when Connor Bryan’s normal solid resistance failed. Cousens found a resolute ally in Will Matthewman as the pair extended the innings by a vital 56 minutes putting on another 47 runs. This was an example of batting the overs in the two day game and Matthewman’s temperament was ideal for the situation. Ashburton’s Tom Durman was making his debut and bravely pushed his own batting ability. He lasted four balls against Lintott, an unorthodox spinner. Cousens, returning to a deserved ovation, had seen the score advance by 143 runs and Devon was in a reasonable position, posting 261 in 82 overs. Cousens was unbeaten on 53, having faced 104 balls in 135 minutes at the crease and hit 4 fours. His second debut of the highest quality.
Somerset had to face twenty overs before close of play. Zak Bess opened with Toby Ingham who, with the score on thirteen, took another valuable scalp in bowling the opposition’s captain, Barrow, for 6. Tom Durman made his county bowling debut and he and Bryan had each conceded just three runs in their four over spells, leaving Somerset 28-1 at close, requiring another 233 on the second day.On Thursday the forecast rain was hovering and delayed the start by forty-five minutes. Somerset put on another 16 in nine overs when Bryan lobbed the ball over the head of the fortunately tall Durman who ran out Contreras. Walker and the highly rated Meschede took the score up 82 when Bryan removed Meschede with a catch from Huxtable. This could have been a critical wicket and certainly slowed up the visitors who scored at only 2.17 for the remaining twelve overs to lunch. Walker had anchored and reached his fifty in the second over after the break. This was to be the last over of the game as heavy rain brought yet another abandonment. Walker had faced 141 balls, batted for 153 minutes in reaching 54. Under 16 Ellison was undefeated on 6 having batted for 45 minutes and faced 38 balls. At 119-3 the game was evenly poised although the absent senior bowlers may have created some problems later in the day |
