DEVON U13 v CORNWALL U13
6TH JULY, 2008, at Wadebridge
DEVON 136 (May 46, Cousens 43)
CORNWALL 97 (Heard 3-7, Loud 2-22)
It was a minor miracle that this match was played. It followed a virtual washout Saturday in both Devon and Cornwall, and I was mildly astonished when the Cornish manager rang to say it could go ahead. The call was brave but correct and, apart from two small rain intervals, a full match was completed, with Devon's first victory of the season. We were originally due to play at damper St Minver, just down the road, but were fortunate victims of a double-booking there with a Cornish mud-wrestling tournament (no, I’m not making this up). No umpires turned up at first, although later on a passing official was waylaid and pressed into service. Rain caused lost overs and re-calculations, so it was a hectic day all round.
Put into bat, we made our regular poor start, but capable innings by Mikey Cousens (43) and Lawrence May (46) in a stand of 82 for the third wicket got us to three figures. Lawrence was especially unfortunate to get a direct deflected run out hit at the bowler’s end. Thereafter, things went downhill in an extraordinary way, with the Cornish coach’s son taking a hat-trick (the first I can remember in a county match). Our total of 136 off 33.2 overs was a big let down from the relative security of 103-2 at 22 overs.
We made a good start with our bowling, with Jack Popham and Josh Mailling looking threatening, but it was the medium pace of Paul Heard that proved decisive. His haul of 3-7, including two maidens (rare for this team), did the main damage.Sam Loud bowled well (two maidens also) as Cornwall’s innings gradually unravelled. Two frustrating rain intervals reduced the target down to only 120, but for once our boys showed confidence, although it was a very relieved manager who applauded victory on his birthday! This must now give us a bit of confidence against Somerset in the last cup match this coming weekend.
GHC