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The journey up to Worcester did not have the smoothest of starts, Tom Mitcham’s efforts at breaking the code, disappointed. The high esteem that West Buckland’s new head boy is held rapidly diminished as his inability to break the Enigma code resulted in 29 minutes and 59 seconds of silence – joy although the narrow one run victory in Saturday’s derby was discussed from two different viewpoints enhanced by Barnies report on his raid of the bins to retrieve some Slazenger gear. We were not subjected to the 55mph limiter on an older bus and good speed was made to the Diglis on the Seven, which is likely to share the best accommodation award of 2010 with possibly the sixteen’s Holiday Inn later in the month. The Midland trait of not opening on a Monday sent us to the Fox Inn at Bransford, to everyone’s pleasure and they were sounded out for a possible return on Wednesday. A feature of the Cathedral City of Worcester is spires, towers, clocks and chimes. Devon left for Pershore dead on time with the hour being chimed. A warm welcome was received from the attractive market town club that has changed little since previous visits in the sixties and seventies. The captain was texting progress reports, back in the UK at 4.30am, an hours sleep from 6.30am and due at the ground at 10.40am. Huxtable tossed in his absence and Devon batted. Following his vital Saturday runs it was decided to open with him and Mitcham in the hope that for the first time in the summer Devon would enjoy a decent opening partnership. Despite both looking in no difficulty they were back in the hutch to discuss the captain’s holiday. They equalled the best of the summer, a totally inadequate 35 (the others 8 /13/ 9 / 0/ 6/13) which has caused problems all summer. Mitcham was bowled playing down the wrong line in the ninth over and second ball of the tenth with no further addition Huxtable did exactly the same – simply awful cricket. The Overton Twins batted with the confidence needed throughout the side adding 15 off eleven when Jamie was leg before on the same unlucky score as Mitcham – 13. Craig and Matt Golding nearly added a hundred failing by just nine (123 balls) with Craig, now past his previous favourite score of 48, caught and bowled for an excellent 70 ball 55. Enter the tired captain who soon brought out his brush as 78 were added off disappointingly 107 deliveries as the accelerator was not pushed. This has been a shortcoming in the 50 over game but conversely is a major advantage in the two dayer. Brown was the second leg before having been severely reprimanded for standing on the pitch. He had batted for a minute over the hour for his 36. Craig Eaves hit a three ball 8 taking Devon up to another below par score of 227. Golding’s rich vein continued with an undefeated 68 in seven minutes over two hours.
With the resting of key bowlers a priority for the important two day game that was to follow this was never likely to be enough and Worcestershire passed the target off the penultimate ball of the forty-seventh over. Worcestershire looked a confident batting side as regular twos keeper-batsman Ollie Steel hit 80 off 132 balls. He had a life on 32 when Huxtable’s arm would not stretch to run him out. Not good and he was soon rested. Worcestershire openers set their team up well, milking the leg side boundary with flicks and glances. One day opener, keeper Dodd was the first to fall bowled by Yates, whose presence in the side has filled an important void with bat, ball and some really brilliant fielding. Forty-three runs for the second wicket took the target to 5.09 from the original 4.54. Matt Kidd held Coleman off the economical Harry Booker, another find of the 2010 season. The third wicket pairing took the score up to 140 when Craig Overton trapped Brighton in front. On 185 the oppositions top batter fell brilliantly caught and bowled by Connor Bryan. This brought in Brown to join opening bowler Mason and both enjoyed themselves driving powerfully on the up. Mason was the Overton’s catch of the game – Craig off the returning Kidd but Brown targeted the Devon bench at long off with three successive drives to win the game. It was obvious that the two day game could be a 400 playing a 300+ making the toss vital. Booker’s 2-29 off ten Devon’s best. Pershore were splendid hosts pulling out all the stops. The code was still working on the radio but George Yates still broke all records for silence as his indecision on the next tune disappointed his colleagues and he was swiftly removed not to be seen again. There was a shortage of sirloins and profiteroles at the Huntsman but Buzza would have enjoyed the banana splits. The clock was chiming ten as the mini-bus was parked. Much had been learnt could it be applied at Omberseley? The Huntsman’s booking for Wednesday was cancelled and the Fox would be revisited. |
