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All present and correct, well they were on the first day, Andrew Buzza in place but not on the wing seat so he was in charge of the music and immediately his age showed with regular response of no. However he started with a west mother’s ring tone which made at least one player feel at home. There was apparently more to the question how long to the ground than first met the eye and this from an experienced traveller. Apart from a spell off the motorway good time was made as Ombersely Cricket Club and the overnight accommodation were passed. We also drove past the ground, TOMTOM at fault again but on eventually entering we were confronted with another special playing area with excellent facilities, the no dogs sign concerned but the club secretary could not have been more helpful as indeed he was throughout the two days. He was well supported on ground and catering. This was another toss to win, sadly democracy entered the under 16s vocabulary and one that will be immediately removed as the captain undertook an opinion poll and came up heads – HEADS!! Of course the noise came from the home side as for the second time in Worcestershire in a week Devon contemplated a day chasing leather. In fact, for the second time in a week, Devon were confronted with a difficult period to bat to close. It looked as if it would be a long day in the field at Hingley and Hills put on 40 in seventeen overs when Booker added to his mounting fantasy points with a six foot plus dive at cover to pick up yet another fine catch (agree it is getting boring) off Yates. On 58 Devon were then gifted a wicket when a slip and a misunderstanding sent Hingley up the steep concrete steps to a very well appointed dressing room run out by Abbott and Davies.. Lunch was taken at an even stevens 85 -2. The choice, size and quality of the lunches was also special but the length of the queue for seconds was a concern. It should not have been as first ball after the interval Worcestershire had lost three, Underhill leg before Booker. Captain Rhodes, who had played against the seventeen’s the previous week looked in good form and was still there unbeaten on 27. He went on to top score with 36 when in the forty-fifth over Booker was on a hat trick. Unfortunately he failed to take the first ever under 16 three in three. He first bowled Rhodes and next ball Huckley was well caught at short leg by the diving Passie Mawalage. It became 138-6 as Pavvie became involved six runs later Rudd was caught Eaves at the sixth attempt. Twenty were added for the eighth wicket when Golding had Pollock well stumped by Rhys Davis. Both Golding and Davis were having good days and it was particularly important from the team’s point of view that Golding was looking like his old self with the ball. Worcestershire advanced to 197 off seventy-nine overs when Booker struck again. Passie again in at short leg held a sharp chance as it was virtually put down his throat at pace, giving Booker his second four wicket haul against the Royals. It was 204 all out as Pavvie dived sideways his full five foot three to take a good return catch.
With the 12.00noon start Devon would bat a minimum of twenty overs, yes the county had been there six days earlier but no need for a walk this time. Joe Abbott had a difficult seven balls and was bowled on the eighth for a rare failure. He could look forward to a rest day in the score box and rather unfairly he was treated to a personal dedication on the return journey –Daniel Powter’s …Day. Eaves and Booker were in control as the weather started closing in and 45 minutes were lost. Play would now continue until 7.45pm so the meal was put back. However at 7.24 close of play came through a combination of drizzle and bad light. Devon were 43-1 after sixteen overs. The ground was left extensively covered for the rain that was originally due around 3.00 but had not yet fully arrived. The evening meal was taken at the nearby White Heart. The team were greeted by some vocal locals who recommended a local club. Smithy would have been proud as it was checked whether everything on the menu was available. It was, well until ordering when the 16oz rumps and lamb shanks went AWL. Throughout the meal it was cats and dogs (rain that is, and really heavy). During the day we had learnt that Jamie Overton’s visit to his physio had revealed that the source of his ankle problem had been his earlier innings at North Devon against Somerset when the rap on his ankle had aggravated an old injury resulting in tissue damage. There was some relief as the prognostic could have been even more serious.
Breakfast was at the adjoining Little Chef with a 9.15am leave. For the first time for a long time we did not leave on time. It was not the Little Chef’s fault but some of the most unlikely members of the group. Not impressed but it was saved for later. On arrival we met a problem that there had been a leak in the covers and one seriously damp patch. Much work was undertaken but play was likely to start after the scheduled 1.00pm lunch. Andy Buzza kept everyone involved but somehow in the course of ten minutes a months supply of ice packs had been used. First George Yates was hit close to the eye, then the coach's bowling marked Craig Overton’s elbow close to an old hockey injury. Both could prove to be critical and perhaps future invitations to this energetic coach will be reviewed. Play started at 1.43pm and Harry Booker's growing reputation was suddenly shattered as second ball of the day he did the unthinkable and played an airy fairy shot to be caught behind. Matt Golding lasted twenty balls but was third out on 54 for a two four 8. The Cornish town of Gunnislake must have been quiet as half their population were in the former carpet town of Kidderminster to watch Davies pulverise the attack. He lasted six balls hit a four and was leg before for five. Hopefully they too were Daniel Powter fans. It was now 59-4, and if that self perpetuating myth is right that Devon young players lack mental toughness the side would now fold. The myth is of course a myth as Devon dug in and recovered the situation. The captain was proving he has an ability to play in various situations and was batting well, he was now joined by the under 17 saviour against Wales, George Yates. He looked OK, his looks not really adversely affected and he batted sensibly catching up his captain. They put on 48 when Yates seemed to hit the doldrums and did not score off five balls, not his normal scene and was bowled for a crucial 29. He must learn that there are big scores within him and the two day game is the platform to complete them. It is not sure why the captain was not been included in Abbott’s dedication, he had been late to breakfast (a really pathetic excuse blaming his recent batting partner) and now did not bat on. Perhaps his 45 had saved him the request; he had batted well and did receive a deserved post match plaudit from an umpire for his general demeanour and his and the behaviour of his side. Devon still needed another 93 for first innings points. Tom Ansell, whose toes had shed Hebridean sand all over the dressing room carpet, now had to put his two weeks beach cricket into use. He found a sound partner in Passie as the target was reduced by a second partnership of 48. They both played really well until in quick succession these tall men brought out their pulls. Ansell’s sailed over short leg to fall ten yards short of orthodox mid wicket and Passie did little better. In Ansell's case perhaps the sand short pitched ball is easier to play than the one on a hard grass track. Hopefully in both cases the shot will be put back in the locker. They both played the spinners with consummate ease and it was the returning seamer Pollock whose Yorker trapped Ansell leg before. A decision on the holding of a disciplinary will be made later as the batter smashed his pads. Thirteen runs later Passie was back in the score box doing the numbers. The bruised Craig Overton replaced his North Devon team mate and Merrick Steward the Plymouth all rounder. Thirty two were needed, Steward worked the leg byes and Overton the boundary ropes. His personal batman, Harry Booker, was on continual standby with the ice and spray and Joe Abbott’s day was made when he was invited to pad up as a potential runner for the wrist injury. Eventually the sleeveless fleece was removed to expose the number 9’s real number – 3. It should not have been a surprise to Rhodes as Overton had batted aggressively the previous Thursday. The target was passed with no mishap, that arrived when Steward tried to clear the pavilion only to reach mid off but his partnership of 43 would have acquired the ten points. Greg Chaplin quickly changed his brown trousers to another pair of white and was a total revelation. It was the long and short of it as Overton flashed past his fifty and Chaplin hit two fours in an unbeaten 16 in an unbroken partnership of 39. Devon declared on 255 with Overton on his way to a ton, sixty not out.
It had been a very useful two days and as stressed in the winter it is often the unsung cricketer that play the vital role, in this case Tom Ansell and Passie. Kidderminster, used to hosting high profile games, were outstanding hosts. The news of the nasty traffic accident to a Lancastrian second team player on his way to Ombersley had been reported in the Telegraph and due to the overnight rain no play had been possible at that ground making us exceptionally fortunate. What was the real find of the trip was of a very high quality DJ, reminiscent of the younger Tuckett. He kept all age groups and preferences happy and whisper this he knows Les Mis. Craig Overton now has a secure place in the side based on his skill on the decks if not his cricketing ability. Andy Buzza had been a great success but was disappointed at the lack of singing. He tried a one man show with no support from the rest but Don Mclean’s American Pie has been added to the play list. Gordano services had a 50/50 split and Passie did a bleep test in the car park. We were back at Exeter slightly later than the previous week but this had been a worthwhile trip.
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