" Yorkshire Too Strong For Weary Devon
On A Belter At The Maer"
No excuses, Yorkshire were the best side Devon Under 14s had played all year, but this match came too soon after all the efforts and heroics of the Taunton Festival the week before.
On a fantastic pitch with a lightening outfield,(thank you Dave), Yorkshire were put in by Devon and Harry Walker-Chapman and Scott Boardman followed by Eliot Acton, bowled straight and backed by excellent fielding Devon restricted Yorkshire to 25-1 off the first 10 overs. Tom Whittle then bowled an in swinging yorker to take the second wicket but soon found that anything slightly off line was punished. Robbie Debenham took a wicket with his second ball and bowled an excellent spell, bowling with more aggression and a little quicker. He too found anything loose hit for 4 by Yorkshire's two best batsmen Van Oorshot who went onto make 81 and Allinson who made 91. At lunch Yorkshire were 117-4 with 19 overs left but even a fine spell by "Scrumpy" Mark Orchard, 5.0.26.0, couldn't contain Yorkshire whose total of 259-7 off 50 overs was about par, if not slightly below par on this pitch and outfield- perhaps a credit to Devon for their commitment.
Yorkshire's opening bowling was accurate and with the score on 28 Gareth Tidball went for an ambitious drive and was caught behind shortly followed by James Parkin. Joe Webb was yorked for 5 with the score on 37. A good game to win from here!! James Fletcher and Robbie started to recover the situation and put on 30, before Fletch was stumped off the outstanding leg spinner Higgens who was turning it square. Eliot Acton is then bowled through the gate going down the track to Higgeins and at the drinks interval it is obvious that Devon can not win. Phil decides to tell Ollie Pyne " you are batting well, don't be afraid to try and hit the bad ball, but nothing silly. Try and get us to 200+". Mearsy is heard to say in the Pavilion the match will be all over shortly!! First over after drinks, 4,4,4, OUT!!!- the last 4 wickets fall in a flurry of dot balls and whacks at the spinners and Devon are all out 130 with 10 overs to go. Early home!
Thank you to everyone at Exmouth for another marvelous day. It was good to hear from Harold, that Yorkshire had a successful tour and we look forward to seeing them again in 2006.
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