Day 1: Cambridgeshire snookered by Burke's 147  

After a delayed start due to the weather Devon, relaxed after a humorous 1/2 hour chat in their common room, warmed up with a new enthusiasm, only glimpses of which had been seen all season. They then won the toss, Dibble not Bess and decided to bat. James Burke was very happy! The ball swung and seamed making it difficult but Bess and Burke saw the score through to 35 before Bess, who had just clipped a 6 over square leg came down the track and was bowled. Phil said it swung late and seamed! Justin Wiiliams and Burke saw Devon through to lunch with 34 overs remaining. Cambridge brought on their spinner who turned the ball prodigiously and Devon played out 7 respectful overs for 2 runs, in which Williams got frustrated and was bowled before Burke decided to start to use his feet and stroked 14 off one over. Shane Evenden was unluckily given out and then Sam Smith and Burke put on 32, before he swept the ball to short fine leg. Enter Harry Stephenson and together with Burke they put on 122 in 17 overs, Burke reaching his splendid hundred and ending up 147 not out off 161 balls- jug evasion it was felt?

Shane Evenden and Adam Dibble, room mates and joined at the hip, opened the bowling and it wasn't long before the pressure brought about the first wicket a direct hit run out by Mark Gilmour who beat Matt Clarke to the ball chasing to deep long on, then turning to throw down the stumps. Devon attacked with tea looming but Cambridgeshire's tea watchman luckily but doggedly stayed in. After tea, Evenden bowled a superb over with a sharp catch going through the slips before Dibble got Zulu out LBW. Luke Bess eager to bowl then had Will Denford to thank for a great reaction catch at short mid off followed by another great slip catch by Tom "Buckets"Cross. Matt Clarke then got a wicket and after Cambridgeshire resisted Ben Robins ran out their number 7 with a terrific throw from midwicket hitting the stumps from side on. Mark Gilmour, who bowled his best spell of the season and James Burke then took the last two wickets each to finish off the match, Cambridgeshire 124 all out. Devon 20 points won by 106 runs with 6 overs to spare. Why haven't we played with this spirit and commitment all season?

Day2: Devon Shocked By Shropshire Spin Kings 

Given the choose of a dry or wet track Devon decided to leave it to the groundsman. Having won the toss they then decided to bat but would have bowled if they had played on the original damp pitch. Hindsight! Luke Bess and James Burke started confidently, although Burke clearly tired after his efforts of the previous day gets out for a 22 ball 1 caught at mid on. Shropshire immediately turn to their strength their spinners and from 26 -1 off 10 overs, Devon start to loose their way. Sam Smith promoted to number 3 departs, 37-2 caught in the gulley off the off spinner, Luke Bess is then caught at mid on trying to hit over the top off their TJ Academy player, Shane Evenden is run out by Harry Stephenson (you can say No!) who hit the ball to point and ran, Justin Williams is caught off a full toss, Mark Gilmour tried to cut the off spinner, Adam Dibble was caught slicing to cover point, Will Denford bowled through the gate by the change off spinner, Sam Cload played back to the off spinner and was bowled and Harry Stephenson and Tom Cross's resistance eventually came to an end when Harry mistimed a shot and was caught. Devon 80 all out in 41 overs! Without any doubt the Shropshire spinners bowled very well and used the slope to their advantage but some of the Devon batsmen showed no matter how much youtalk and practice, that once out in the middle under pressure, how difficult young players find playing spin- is it partly because they have to think!

To quote Geoffrey Boycott "If the batsmen don't score enough runs then no matter how good your bowlers are then it is very difficult indeed to win." Clearly the Shropshire batsmen were told to occupy the crease which played into Devon's hand and although perhaps Adam Dibble and James Burke choose the wrong ends to bowl, Burke took a wicket in his first over and another in the eigth. Tight fielding and excellent bowling, started to mount the pressure and Shane Evenden bowled the number 3, 37-3 off 13 overs. Sam Cload bowled a great spell and Tom Cross took a wicket 43-4 off 19 but although James Burke took his third wicket and Luke Bess bowled two maidens it only took one over for the cork to pop and Shropshire eased home in the 36th over 81-5. Whilst extremely disappointing the Devon players should nevertheless be very proud of their performance in the field, as they never gave up and bowled superbly, which got special comment from the Umpires. At least we kept Dennis waiting- ages!